After securing a community infrastructure levy grant of nearly £1 million, Rother District Council made a planning application to expand and improve the toilets and coastal offices in Camber central car park. This was approved by the planning committee at the end of November 2023.
The plans include an increase in the number of toilets; outside showers and foot wash; a larger first aid space; space for RNLI equipment storage; and space for coastal staff and Operation Radcott partners. There will be a small kiosk supplying local tourist information and details on the landscape and wildlife to help visitors understand the importance of the dune environment. A small, healthy and sustainable food and drink outlet will use local suppliers and the space will be available for the local community out of season.
Before submitting plans, and during the application process, consultations were undertaken with local people, businesses, and other stakeholders with some of their suggestions taken on board to modify the plans.
Amongst some of the changes are: a decrease in the number of unisex toilets as concerns were raised during consultation about the number of these allocated in relation to male and female toilets; a reduction in the height of the tower and the removal of a balcony from the top; sustainable drainage will be introduced to trap sand and reduce flooding from showers and footbaths.
The timeline for the project is to start on site after the end of the summer season in October 2024 with planned completion April 2025.
Full details of the plans can be found here.
The full approval can be read here.
Image Credits: Juliet Duff .
Why waste the money when no one goes there now because of the hi-parking charges?
You don’t have to park in the central car park. There are other places to park, some even free (by the windsurfing centre or in designated areas in Lydd Road), plus an hourly bus and a cycle track very close, from both Rye and Lydd. The public facilities in the central car park are inadequate and outdated for the number of visitors.