As attempts to re-open the public toilets on The Strand in Rye continue, photos taken when the doors were unlocked show the extent of the damage and the repairs needed. Broken tiles, piles of rubbish, damaged equipment are clear to see. Rye News has decided not to publish the worst of the photos.
The toilets were closed last year – along with the ones in the Gun Garden – as part of cost- saving at Rother District Council who own and run Rye’s public conveniences.
Last month Rye Town Council voted to use money from reserves to get the Strand toilets open, not least to help visitors at Rye Heritage Centre. Work has now begun, with the council waiting for water samples to be tested and a cleaning contractor to be appointed. The ambition is still to open the Strand toilets very soon says Town Clerk Richard Fairhall. “There’s no definite re-opening date yet. We are hoping to get the legionella results next Thursday and repairs done by end of next week.”
There will be a Rye Town Council meeting on Monday June 10 to discuss how to use the budget allocated for the toilets. Whilst the meeting is open to all, the public will be excluded for part of the discussion when quotes from businesses will be examined.
The toilets in the Gun Garden remain closed and are reported to be in a worse state after vandalism. A long term solution to maintaining and running Rye’s public toilets is still some way off, with funding ideas being explored by Rye Town Council and Rye Chamber of Commerce.
Image Credits: RTC , Rye Town Council .