Sidmouth: there's still time to have your say on public loos proposals

Just under a month is left for Sidmouth residents to have their say on proposals that would see the town losing either its Market Place toilets, or those at Port Royal.

East Devon District Council says it can't carry on operating all the loos it currently looks after, so it's planning to improve those it feels are the most needed, and close some that it doesn't think are necessary.

The £3million investment will lead to lower running costs for the toilets that do remain open, and they'll also be more modern and cleaner. The idea is that in East Devon's main town centres and seafronts, toilet facilities should be no more than eight minutes' walk away.

Sidmouth town councillors are strongly opposed to the closing of either the Market Place or Port Royal toilets - they feel that both are needed, particularly during the visitor season.

Read more about the proposals for Sidmouth here.

The consultation runs until Friday, October 1, and so far around 600 people across East Devon have had their say.

One idea put forward is to revamp some of the toilets, providing a mix of facilities: some men-only, some women-only, some unisex, some for disabled people and some with a baby changing area. Instead of having a communal wash-basin area, which can be vandalised, each would have its own cubicle with a basin.

Another idea would be to have a two-to-one ratio of women's and men's toilets to reduce queueing times.

Some of the specific comments made include:

• You need to figure it out: Sidmouth needs BOTH Port Royal and the Marketplace. It's a public health hazard to close either.

• Look at rain harvesting solutions - solar power and even card donation. Offer local shops who allow use of toilets a financial incentive.

• Ensuring at a minimum that there is a toilet block within an eight-minute walk is not practical. We can't expect someone who is able bodied who is desperate for the toilet to walk for eight minutes to a toilet.

• I would be happy to pay 30p if that would mean more toilets would be provided.

• You are failing to consider adequately the needs of the disabled or to allow for the greater toileting need of elderly residents and visitors.

• I don't think toilets needs to be modern and in line for awards. When I need a toilet I do not care what condition it is in - I'd rather have less focus on condition and more focus on relief!

For full details of the proposals for toilets across East Devon, and a link to the consultation questionnaire, click here.