Two sets of public toilets which have been closed for years are set to reopen after pressure from a community campaign group.
The toilets at Pavilion Gardens and The Level were among several closed in autumn 2022 because of rising costs, which council officials said were partly due to having to increase pay when the cleaning service was brought in house, and partly because of the legacy of years of underinvestment in maintenance.
When others reopened in the spring, these two remained closed because of “significant issues”.
At Pavilion Gardens, persistent antisocial behaviour means a consistent security presence is needed, which last year’s budget could not stretch to.
And the building housing the toilets on The Level has been hit by leaks caused by damage to a Victorian drainage system which happened when the skate park was installed.
This week, Acorn campaigners said they had received a pledge from the Labour administration to reopen both toilets in the coming months.
Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed Pavilion Gardens would reopen when enough staff had be recruited to have two attendants there seven days a week.
And it said a preferred tenant had now been found to run a new cafe in the MacLaren Pavilion on the Level, where three new toilets are being installed. It’s hoped this will open in July.
Acorn was told Pavilion Gardens would be open “imminently” – but the council did not confirm that timescale.
The campaign group’s organiser Toby Sedgwick said: “This is a big victory for the people of Brighton and Hove, who rely on public toilets as a basic service. We will be making sure these toilets are re-opened as soon as possible.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The Pavilion Gardens block will be open as soon as we have sufficient staff members to reopen (this is two attendants, to provide a seven day a week service).
“This will be at the existing block.
“The timescales for the new toilets at The Maclaren Pavilion are to be confirmed.
“We’ve just completed the procurement process, identified the preferred contractor, and are aiming to get them open by July.”
The Pavilion Garden toilets are set to be completely rebuilt as part of a multi-million pound refurb of Pavilion Gardens. Lottery funding has been secured, and a planning application, which also includes putting up a fence around the gardens, is pending.
It won’t go well. They will be used by druggies, drunks and God knows who else, just like before. Very sad, but these days public toilets can be very dangerous places.
They are a necessity everyone uses a loo. If manned and kept clean a godsend d to everyone. BRIGHTON is the worst supplier o f public toilets shame, all towns should have access too loos make them pay on entry gate this will stop some if the abuse of them
Unfortunately, I agree. Public toilets are a place I’ve had to pick up many a patient before.
Full of crack heads
This is very good news.
The only weird bit is why it took so long?
I’m walking around the city centre several times a week, usually after 5pm, and the only public places to take a pee are Churchill Square – a place I don’t shop – or the Palace Pier. If you are lucky then you might find the library open, but otherwise you need to pay to go to a cafe or pub.
But try walking in from Preston Park or from Lewes road, and there are no pubic loos at all.
Shocking.
Lack of staff to keep them open
About time.Other countries don’t have a problem.Toilets are necessary for tourists,disabled and oaps.On the continent toilets are attended full time.These attendants are also responsible for cleaning toilets and making sure the floors are clean. It’s time Brighton was cleaned up and was made to be a nice tourist city to visit.We need zero tolerance.Big hefty fines for taggers and anti social behaviourists. Full credit to the local labour administration.
The whole city shows the result of a “legacy of years of underinvestment in maintenance” whilst funds were diverted to vanity schemes.
Get these toilets back open asap, a must for locals and visitors alike in Brighton,
Thank you. I am disabled and cannot find a toilet when out, so I get Anxiety about going out. Also, no toilets, eventually No Visitors.
AS A FREQUENT PISSER THERE ARE TOILETS AT MACDONALDS , WETHERSPOONS , BRIGHTON STATION , ETC , ETC THE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE , BRIGHTON LIBRARY ( NOT THAT I GO IN THERE IF I CAN HELP IT , WITH PEOPLE SITTING THERE GOSSIPING , WOKE PARENTS LETTING THEIR OFFSPRING RUN RIOT , HOMELESS PEOPLE CLOGGING UP THE PLACE SLEEPING IN THERE ALL DAY LONG , STUDENTS TAKING UP ALL THE SEATS IN THE MAIN LIBRARY INSTEAD OF USING THE YOUNG PEOPLES’ AREA THAT WE’RE NOT ALLOWED IN I CAN’T STAND THE GLASS MONSTROSITY THE STAFF AREN’T PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY EITHER I COMPLAINED ABOUT SOME LITTLE TOSSER SCRUNCHING A CRISP PACKET AD NAUSEAM , WHILE WATCHING A FILM AND THE OBNOXIOUS STAFF MEMBER TOLD ME ” I SHOULDN’T BE GOING TO SEE A CHILDREN’S FILM , WIZARD OF OZ A FAMILY FILM AFTER THE LEFT WING SCRUBBER PARENT COMPLAINED , ) BUT IF I NEED A PISS AND I’M DESPERATE I’LL GO IN
THE LAST LOT OF CLEANERS SPENT MOST OF THEIR TIME OUTSIDE SMOKING THEIR HEADS OFF INSTEAD OF CLEANING , TYPICAL COUNCIL WORKERS THINGS WON’T BE ANY DIFFERENT THIS TIME
Instead of posting all caps rants why don’t you apply for the job and show everyone else what a good job you’d do.
If you ever hear this guy speak, his syntax is quite representative.
I lived in New Zealand for 18 years where even the smallest town has its public toilets which are kept spotless by council staff and local volunteers. Such toilets are essential for older people. Toilet provision in Brighton and Hove is appalling.
Will the toilets opposite Hove Town Hall (under the car park) ever be reopened??
Toilet traders at your Marks,,
This is very good news from the labour led council. Brighton which once was well provided with WCs has seriously deteriorated in this essential provision. Cafes and pubs usually have to move to code and customer only system. The experience in Costa, Bond Street is often like being in a public loo as people stream in and out when under pressure from non customers staff are obliged to take the the code down