The public toilets on Rye’s Salts could be the base for a new cycling hub in the town if ambitious plans from a local company are approved.
Rye Bay E-Bikes, based on Rye Harbour Road, is waiting to hear whether their bid to take over the use of the toilets at Lucknow Place has been approved by Rother District Council. Last year agents working for the council advertised three of Rye’s public toilets for conversion to retail use. Potential new operators would still have to maintain part of the buildings as toilets.
Martin and Wendy Summers from Rye Bay E-Bikes say their plans for toilets on the Salts will take advantage of a great location. “The new hub at Lucknow Place will be a place where cyclists can get all they need to know about cycling in and around Rye. We’ll have advice on safe routes, as well as help on hiring and maintaining bikes.” The couple are working with mobility campaigners and Sussex Greenway on accessibility, and hope to offer support to BMXers on using the ramps nearby.
Rother District Council says any businesses taking over the building needs to maintain a minimum level of toilet provision – for Lucknow Place that means keeping a single unisex, accessible toilet. Martin and Wendy say their plans will go much further. “One toilet isn’t enough as it gets really busy, so we’re looking at keeping another with baby changing facilities, one with urinals and another for our staff.” The firm will also offer cycle and e-bike storage.
Rye Bay E-Bikes has been running for five years but the couple say post-pandemic their business model is changing. “We can’t compete with online over bike sales, but there’s a big opportunity in Rye none the less. Nobody wants to repair e-bikes, so we can do that along with offering hiring and tours to visitors.”
Two other public toilets in Rye have also had expressions of interest. The toilets in the Gun Garden and on Strand Quay are being discussed as potential coffee shops or takeaways. Both toilets were closed in 2023 because of cost cutting at Rother District Council. They were re-opened after Rye Town Council agreed to use money from reserves for repairs and maintenance. The toilets on Station Approach in Rye are not included the current plans.
The toilets at Winchelsea Beach and Winchelsea were also advertised by Rother District Council’s agents Hobbs Parker. An offer to maintain the toilets at the beach along with a mobile sauna in the nearby car park is being discussed. In the town, a proposal to convert the public toilets was withdrawn.
Image Credits: David Worwood , James Stewart .
This is utter, utter madness. There’s scant public toilet provision in the town already. How will the loss of these and other facilities be compensated for?
Well I hope that we’re not left with the disgusting station toilets. Absolutely filthy, and what a way to welcome people to the town, as they come off the trains and coaches. Maybe the town council could take them over, then they might be as clean as the ones they look after at the strand.