Questions were raised if new pay-to-use public loos planned for Budleigh Salterton seafront could withstand ‘pebble dashing’ during storms.

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

Budleigh Salterton is getting new-and-improved public loos on the seafront near Lime Kiln car park, writes local democracy reporter Will Goddard.

The current toilet block will be demolished, and when the replacement opens, users will have to pay 40p to spend a penny with a contactless payment card or phone.

Plans for the proposed new Budleigh seafront loos. Image: EDDC/Kendall Kingscott.

Refurbished in 2011, the current building is believed to date from the 1930s and features one disabled toilet and four unisex loos opening onto the coast path, as well as an external shower for beachgoers.

The new block will have fibre-cement timber-look cladding, painted metal doors in beach-hut colours and a flat roof with solar panels. It will have one disabled loo and four unisex toilets as before, but also a ‘Changing Places’ facility for people with severe disabilities, two outside showers, a bike rack, a water bottle refill point, and seating.

How the toilet block looks now. Image: EDDC.

When asked whether it could withstand pebbles dashing it during storms, Councillors were assured it would be “robust”

But Cllr Brian Bailey (Conservative, Exmouth Littleham) was not happy with the design, describing the new block as “hideous”. He said: “It’s completely out of keeping with buildings on the seafront.

“If you put a flat roof with solar panels on, some little darlings of Budleigh will be… having great fun leaping off the cliff onto the roof. It’ll be their latest sport. I think it’s absolutely unacceptable.”

By contrast, Cllr Anne Hall (Lib Dem, Exmouth Littleham) argued the flat roof was in keeping with nearby flat-roofed apartments.

An artist’s impression of the new Budleigh seafront loos, near the Lime Kiln car park. Image: EDDC/Kendall Kingscott.

The new Budleigh loos come as part of a wider East Devon District Council (EDDC) scheme to refurbish or rebuild 15 ‘category A’ public conveniences across the district at an estimated cost of £5 million.

Another 12 category B and C loos EDDC cannot afford to run have been offered for commercial operators to change them into cafes, takeaways or community hubs – although the public must still be able to go to the loo there – and also to town and parish councils to run in place of EDDC.

East Devon’s public toilets are ranked as follows:

Category A

West Street car park, Axminster    

Cliff Path (West End/Steamer), Budleigh Salterton

East End (Lime Kiln), Budleigh Salterton

Jubilee Gardens, Beer

Foxholes car park, Exmouth

Magnolia Centre (London Inn), Exmouth

Manor Gardens, Exmouth

Phear Park, Exmouth

Queens Drive, Exmouth

Lace Walk, Honiton

West Walk, Seaton

Connaught Gardens, Sidmouth

Triangle, Sidmouth

Market Place, Sidmouth

Ham car park (new site), Sidmouth

Categories B and C    

Orcombe Point, Exmouth    

The Maer, Exmouth

Imperial Road, Exmouth

Jarvis Close, Exmouth

Seaton Hole, Seaton

Harbour Road, Seaton

Marsh Road, Seaton

Brook Road, Budleigh Salterton

Station Road, Budleigh Salterton

Dolphin Street, Colyton

King Street, Honiton

Port Royal, Sidmouth