Three of Rye's public toilets are about to be partly converted into commercial businesses following a decision by Rother District Council. There's a cycle hub planned for the toilets on Rye Salts, with the buildings on the Strand and in the Gun Garden hosting coffee shops. The Council says it's the only way to ensure the toilets' future.
The team at Rye Heritage Centre aren't so sure. Manager Simon Parsons says the volunteers want answers - and re-assurances.
When we first heard the news about Rother’s proposals to lease out the public toilets at Strand Quay to a coffee vendor, staff and volunteers at Rye Heritage Centre reacted with concern having experienced the wrath of visitors during the long closure of the previous season until the toilets were temporarily re-opened by Rye Town Council.
Our initial thoughts, like most people I guess, were that no business would be foolish enough to invest the estimated £10-15k in the improvement and conversion of the toilets let alone be attracted by a 5% pa levy on their takings as well as a £5,000 a year lease.
However it was confirmed in August that a lessee had been found and contracts were about to be signed, the toilets would be temporarily closed in September for works to be carried out and indeed they would be operated as a coffee outlet with public toilet facilities! Whilst it remains unclear to most what the attraction of buying a coffee from an operational toilet block will be, we understand that officers at Rother are convinced this is a viable proposition and it would appear that at least one business person agrees.
Hearing this news, I was asked by the volunteers to seek some answers as to how this would affect us in terms of dealing with the inevitable queries and comments from visitors. Despite the fact that we are independent of any council or local authority and do not provide a tourist information facility, visitor perception and expectation is that we are. We are already faced with a daily stream of generally unanswerable questions and referrals to the proper authority - a time-consuming interruption to our daily operation.
At around the same time, Rye News carried an article about the general proposals for public conveniences in Rother, including the bizarre but now dropped idea that one block at Winchelsea Beach be converted into a beach-side sauna. Rother District Councillor Si McGurk posted a comment suggesting that he had received widespread support form the community for the proposals. I challenged this in Rye News but also approached Cllr McGurk to visit us at the centre and meet with a selection of volunteers and trustees to answer a growing list of questions to help manage visitor fallout.
Cllr McGurk agreed to the meeting and answered our questions as best as he could based on his knowledge, and as these were not definitive, we asked that he took the points away for more detailed responses from Rother Officers.
Although it took a considerable number of weeks for a response to come from Rother they did respond and our questions and their answers are shown below. We have expressed both our confusion that so many answers appear to be unconfirmed given the prior announcement that a lease had been agreed, and to ask for some news of timings. We need to prepare and, at the very least, notify various group visit organisers such as TUI, who bring numerous cruise ship passengers to the centre, about the public facilities that will be available nearby.
It seems no lease has been signed and there appears to be no news when (and if) it will be. Rother suggest it may be next year before things happen so what about this winter? Will the toilets stay open? It doesn't seem to be in anyone's budget right now.
We’ve also pointed out that Rother’s assumption there will be no issues does not reflect our previous experiences and cannot be the result of any local consultation.
For the moment we can only resolve that we deal with the public with empathy as required and ensure that we report any issues we observe to Rother regularly - we expect to be busy. Management and trustees will of course offer every support to our fantastic volunteers when dealing with visitors discomfort, sometimes genuine distress, and occasional abuse.
We probably won’t be drinking the coffee, especially as we are well served with plenty of establishments in the immediate vicinity. Cllr McGurk has offered to join the volunteer team for a day to experience things for himself.
I would like to thank Cllr McGurk for his efforts in this matter - it just goes to show that councillors will respond when they are contacted. I might wish they were at times more proactive, but it’s good to know that in this instance we’ve been heard.
Here are the questions and answers:
How many toilet cubicles will remain in operation?
Not yet confirmed. Minimum will be disabled and one other.
What will be the opening days and hours, and will they operate year-round?
Year-round but detailed opening hours not yet confirmed.
Will separate disabled-access facilities continue?
Yes.
When will the lease be signed and work start?
No lease has been entered into yet. Discussions with the operator are still ongoing. Realistically, with planning consent still required, there will be no works this year so the earliest date for works will now likely be after summer 2026.
Who will monitor adherence to opening hours?
RDC as landlord. We will be keen for locals to keep us updated though.
Who will monitor cleanliness?
Same as above.
Will the toilets become unisex?
Not yet confirmed. Possible.
Will lessees be able to charge for use?
The lease will specifically exclude the possibility of ever charging.
What contingency plans exist for business failure?
Two things – remarket for a new commercial operator. Second, we would look to get these open via the town council in the interim.
What action will be taken for non-compliance with lease terms?
We would formally seek that the lease is adhered to and forfeit it for non-compliance if that failed. If this is ever required it may not be legally ‘easy’ but we will have relatively strong control.
How was the cost–benefit analysis of the lease plan conducted, and what were its results?
The cost benefit analysis is apparent – the council does not have the money available to continue to run public loos or to invest in the buildings. This proposal gives these public loos a long-term viable future at no cost to the public as well as rental income. The principle remains that having an active business on site should improve the situation compared to the current unmanned toilets. It will discourage anti-social behaviour.
Can a dedicated Rother phone number be provided for visitor complaints?
I do not think that a dedicated number can be provided but our usual complaints / phone service is in place.
Can we have a dedicated Rother officer’s email for reporting observations?
We can do that. To be decided who.
What support will Rother provide to local traders, including signage clarifying responsibilities and directing complaints appropriately?
This assumes there will be issues. There is no reason to think there will be issues and the first port of call should really be the business operating the loos.
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