Petition calls for parking profits to fund improved public toilets in Brighton park

More than 1,400 people have signed a petition calling for improvements to the public toilets in a Brighton park.

One of those asking people to sign the petition said that parents would rather take their children home than use the public toilets in Preston Park.

The petition has been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council by Lee Wares, Ed De Sousa and Sam Evans, the Conservative candidates in Preston Park ward in the local elections next year.

It was started by Francis Incorvaja who runs the Rotunda Café.

The Conservatives said: “Parents would rather take their children home than use them and mothers (are) refusing to change babies for fear of infection and disease.

“The Green council proudly publicises that it has won national awards for its public toilets. It fails to mention that those not put forward for awards are shamefully poor.

“The public toilets close to the Rotunda Café have been not been upgraded for over 13 years and over the last two years have been planned for redecoration but always pushed back as a low priority.

“The council made a surplus from the park car parking scheme last year and revenue from the scheme can only be spent on the park.

“Residents and visitors now rightly demand that the public toilets be refurbished to a proper standard befitting one of the city’s flagship parks.”

Mr Incorvaja said: “For over a decade, me, my customers and visitors to the park have complained about the terrible condition of the public toilets.

“Now with this petition and the help of the Conservative candidates I hope that the council finally listens and refurbishes them.”

Mr Incorvaja and the three candidates hope that the petition can be presented at the full council meeting at Brighton Town Hall on Thursday 17 July.