More public toilets to undergo a revamp
More of Brighton & Hove’s public toilets are set to undergo major refurbishment this year.
As part of a second phase of work to improve the city’s public toilet facilities, the toilets at Goldstone Villas in Hove and the Ovingdean Undercliff will get a significant revamp.
As with the first phase of the programme, as well as improving the condition of the toilets, we’ll be providing new facilities to make them accessible for everyone. This will include introducing family rooms and ambulant toilets, which help people with mobility issues or sensory loss.
We’re also pleased to say we have received planning permission for a new café and public toilet facility in the MacLaren Pavilion at The Level while work is also progressing well with three new Changing Places Toilets, with the support of government funding.
Changing Places Toilets (CPTs), unlike standard accessible toilets, have an adult changing bench, hoist facilities and extra space for carers.
The new CPT in the One Garden at Stanmer Park should be completed by March. The CPTs in Preston Park and St Ann’s Well Gardens should be open by June.
Goldstone Villas
Goldstone Villas is in an area of high footfall, serving shoppers on George Street and those travelling to and from Hove Station.
Unfortunately, the site has also experienced anti-social behaviour which the refurbishment will look to combat.
The refurbishment will include:
Women’s toilet
- a family room,
- an ambulant toilet,
- same number of cubicles.
Men’s toilet
- a family room,
- an ambulant toilet,
- two cubicles (reduced from three to accommodate the family room), and
- individual urinals with a privacy screen, rather than one trough
An accessible toilet will be relocated within the building making it accessible from Goldstone Villas, rather than Eaton Villas due to the volume of anti-social behaviour.
The work will also involve raising the floor to ground level, making it more accessible, especially for people with buggies using the family rooms.
Picture: The toilets at Goldstone Villas
Ovingdean Undercliff
Ovingdean Undercliff is a well-used seafront site, and one of only a few seafront sites which hasn’t been refurbished in recent years.
The improvements here will include:
Women’s toilet
- a family room,
- an ambulant toilet and
- more cubicles, an increase from 4 to 5.
Men’s toilet
- a family room,
- an ambulant toilet,
- 3 cubicles (reduced from 4 to accommodate the family room),
- individual urinals with a privacy screen, rather than one trough
an accessible toilet in same location.
Picture: The public toilets at Ovingden Undercliff
Toilets a top priority
Councillor Tim Rowkins, Chair of the City Environment, South Downs and The Sea Committee, said: “Improving Brighton & Hove’s public toilet facilities is one of our top priorities so we’re very pleased to see more refurbishments on the way.
“I know this work will be welcome news to our residents and the millions of visitors we welcome to the city every year. Public toilets play an essential role in the city and making sure they’re open and accessible for everyone is very important.
“With new family rooms, ambulant toilets and Changing Places toilets, this work will be a lifeline for so many families, and especially for those with mobility issues, disabilities and their carers.”
