Welcome Centre coming to Camber

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After a period of public consultation and with the opportunity for locals to make their voices heard, a planning application (RR/2023/1743/P) was approved by Rother District Council in November 2023 for the “Extension and internal/external refurbishment of the Camber central WC’s and coastal office” at Car Park Central, Old Lydd Road, Camber.

The existing building is dated and not really fit for purpose now so Rother District Council  are embarking on a refurbishment and extension of the current toilet and staffing block which will create a new Camber Sands Welcome Centre. The fully funded project is planned to start on site this October.

Entrance to Camber Central carpark

Toilets are very topical at the moment and with public conveniences closing locally due to lack of funding it’s refreshing and positive news that not only will these toilets be staying open but are being enlarged and enriched into the bargain.

One of the councils objectives at Camber is to “improve the layouts that maximise the efficiency and capacity of all WCs and rectify the known building issues with targeted sustainability investment. The council also hopes to expand and enrich the new construction and provide extra space for additional activities and commercial space for a kiosk.”

The building currently provides for 21 toilets which will be increased to 38 including urinals and given the growing amount of visitors to Camber each year, this initiative will be very welcomed. The existing Coastal Operations office (the multi-agency sea safety operation base at Camber Sands) will be significantly improved along with increased first aid facilities and a new permanent storage space for the RNLI. The new building will also offer a new welfare facility for seasonal staff which, out of season, then becomes a hireable community space.

Camber central car park, no tarmac to be seen, just a small ‘lake’ and plenty of shifting sand

The buildings “green” credentials have also been carefully considered and will include rainwater harvesting, solar panels and sustainable urban drainage systems and the Welcome Centre will offer information and guidance on dune management, ecology and sea safety education.

The kiosk will generate much-needed income and will also offer visitors useful information, including nearby amenities, places of interest and details of local wildlife with the aim of encouraging a better understanding of the unique sand dune environment, The intention is also to provide a small, healthy, and environmentally sustainable take-away food and drink facility utilising local suppliers. Out of season, the kiosk could be made available for hire for community use, schools and by local residents, (dependent on the provider).

There is an exciting future in store for what at present is a pretty mundane building and with work due to start at the end of the summer season, there is still time to enjoy the existing facilities, which currently cater for some of the 25,000 summer visitors that come to Camber each day.

Image Credits: Nick Forman .

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