Public toilets will be reprovided at Bognor Regis car park

ks180363-1 Bognor London Road Car Park phot kate
The London Road car park in Bognor.ks180363-1 SUS-180730-190655008 — ks180363-1 Bognor London Road Car Park phot kate The London Road car park in Bognor.ks180363-1 SUS-180730-190655008

The site off London Road, which currently provides public conveniences, is used by Arun District Council as a public car park as well as a lorry/coach park.

In July 2018, cabinet members from the previous Tory administration, agreed to market the site to be developed for student accommodation, retaining a public car park with enhanced access to Hotham Park.

Since the original decision, there has been a further proposal made that the re-development allows to the re-provision of public toilets. As this was not part of the original decision, the cabinet was asked to approve the extension of the proposals to include the further element.

At a cabinet meeting last night (Monday, February 10), Matt Stanley, cabinet member for technical services, said: “It would be fair to say we have inherited some challenges around public conveniences in Bognor Town Centre.

“Although there are conveniences within Hotham Park, these public toilets are extremely well used by the nearby school and the library as well.  “There have been incidents of anti-social behaviour reported around these toilets [which is] a hugely complex situation. The removal of a toilet for a building isn’t going to resolve the situation.”

Deputy leader Francis Oppler said he was ‘very grateful’ that the issue was being looked into.

He added: “It’s something that has been very close to my heart for a very long time and I campaigned very strongly against the proposed closure or removal of the toilets.

“It is a very well used facility by members of the public from the Glenwood estate who walk through this route into town. It is adjacent to Edward Bryant School and parents with younger children have access to the facilities.” Nat Slade, group head of technical services, said any restructure would require periodic refurbishment depending on the level of usage. According to the council, this would cost approximately £2,000 per annum on average.

The planning documents added that the toilets will be reprovided at a cost of £50,000 ‘by way of deduction from the sum offered for the site’. The cabinet unanimously supported the proposals.