Community Toilet Scheme launches in Adur and Worthing

Adur & Worthing Councils have launched a community toilet scheme with partners and local businesses to make more facilities available free of charge.

The scheme has launched with a number of buildings already signed up, including The Shoreham Centre, Shoreham Library, Lancing Parish Hall and Eastbrook Manor Community Centre, Worthing Town Hall, Worthing Library and Brooklands Cafe.

Accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities are available at each of the above. The Shoreham Centre, Worthing Library and Brooklands Cafe also host Changing Places facilities - larger, accessible toilets with specialist equipment to support people with mobility issues.

Businesses, organisations and buildings across the area are also being invited to make their facilities readily available for the public when they need them.

The Council say the scheme will make it easier for members of the public to identify additional toilet facilities they can use without needing to make a purchase, while also knowing the toilets are being maintained to a good standard.

In return, and based on the level of facilities available to the public, the councils will contribute around £20 per week to participating premises that are not council owned or operated, to help fund the cleaning of the sites.

There will continue to be council-owned public facilities across Adur and Worthing, and it’s hoped that the scheme’s introduction will provide additional, accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities for members of the public, particularly in the area’s town and village centres.

Participating premises will display a membership sticker in their windows, indicating they are signed up to the scheme. Premises must also supply adequate hand washing and drying provision as well as bins.

Councillor Vicki Wells, Worthing’s cabinet member for environmental services, added: “We’ve learned from other councils that operate community toilet schemes and I hope that its introduction in Adur and Worthing will prove as successful for residents and visitors.

“I’d like to thank Worthing Library and the Brooklands Cafe team for pioneering it in our town and encourage other businesses and buildings to find out more.”