Major improvements on public toilets
An update has been given on the major improvements that have
been carried out to Thanet’s public toilets over the last financial
year.
Cllr. Roger Latchford, Cabinet Member for Commercial Services,
last week (Thursday 23 February) updated Members on the progress
that had been made on the project since April 2006.
The first work carried out during the year was at West Bay,
where repairs were made to the roof and new plastering applied to
the walls. The next project saw a three unit pod installed in King
George VI Park, consisting of one ladies, one gent’s and one
disabled toilet. This will be looked after by the concessionaire
nearby, who will be keeping an eye on it to help reduce incidents
of vandalism. This will be opened to the public at Easter.
Three key toilets along Thanet’s seafront have also been
renovated during this financial year, with three cubicles now for
ladies at Dumpton Gap, along with a baby changing facility, new
flooring and doors and a drainage system to prevent flooding. The
toilets have also been refurbished and repainted, with new
furniture installed.
Elsewhere on the coastline, at Stone Bay, the ladies toilets
have been completely renovated, with baby changing facilities, new
furniture and new tiles. The toilets at Botany Bay have been
repainted and new roof and new furniture installed, while the
toilets at Viking Bay were also painted and a new fan was installed
to prevent damp, which had been a problem at this site.
Demolition work is underway at the old Granville toilets in
Ramsgate, which have been a magnet for skateboarders, graffiti and
vandalism, and the site will then be landscaped.
Cllr. Latchford said: “We know that public toilets are a major
priority for local people and that’s why we’ve invested money in
them to ensure that they meet the standards that people expect.
There’s a lot of work to do, as we have more toilets in Thanet per
head of population than any other seaside resort in the south, but
there’s been an enormous amount achieved in this financial year and
I’m sure both local residents and visitors will welcome the
tremendous improvements that have been made in this area. We have
already received a number of compliments from members of the
public, telling us how clean the public toilets are in Thanet and
how they are looking much better than they have done for many
years. That’s a great testament to the money that’s been invested
in this project and the hard work of our officers.”
ENDS