Future of Aldwick toilets in doubt

The Aldwick Parish Council members agreed to end their annual contribution of some £7,000 towards the upkeep of the loos.

Their decision means a letter formally cancelling the agreement from next March 31 to bear the burden of the sites at Marine Park Gardens, West Meads and West Park will be sent to Arun District Council.

Parish council chairman Dr Tony Poland said: “We will honour our commitments this financial year and that’s it.”

The councillors made their decision because they believed the contribution – at ten per cent of the total they raise from residents each year – was too much for the standard of care for the toilets.

But it raises a big question mark over the sites’ continuation. Arun started to seek parish council help in the mid-1990s because it said it could not afford to keep the toilets open on its own.

Gillian Brown, Arun’s leader, told the councllors: “I’m disappointed at the decision over the toilets. I can’t understand the reasoning for it.”

After the meeting, an Arun spokeswoman said: “We have not had any contact from Aldwick Parish Council with regards to any intention on their part to change the partnership agreement for future years, and so cannot comment about the future operation of the public conveniences.”