Published: June 11, 2008
Council confirms Burnham-On-Sea public toilets will be closed

A controversial block of public toilets in Burnham-On-Sea is to be sold off by Sedgemoor District Council, it was announced on Wednesday (June 11th).

Tim Mander, Sedgemoor District Council's Strategic Property Manager, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "

The bids were considered by Sedgemoor District Council's Executive Committee at a meeting in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon - and one was approved. The value of the sale was not made public.

The councillors also approved a new one-year trial of a 'Community Comfort Scheme' where Sedgemoor District Council will approach seafront businesses about paying them to make their toilet facilities available to the public.

Claire Faun, council spokeswoman, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The idea is that we will pay businesses that open their toilets to the public. The amount they get will vary according to their opening hours and the type of facilities - such as nappy changing areas and multiple cubicles - available."

"This will mean there will also be an increase in toilet provision in Burnham, not a decrease and should mean the facilities are more convenient because they will be located in businesses."

Burnham town councillor Neville Jones, who has campaigned against the closure, spoke at the meeting in favour of retaining the facility, but a vote of district councillors decided to plough ahead with the sale of the block.

Cllr Jones told Burnham-On-Sea.com afterwards that he was "very disappointed" by the decision.

"It is very disappointing to see these facilities being sold off, but I am pleased nonetheless that the money raised will be ring-fenced for Burnham," he said.

The district council began inviting bids in March from firms interested in buying the building, even though it had said last November that the loos would re-open in time for the start of this year's tourist season.

The toilets were temporarily closed in April 2007 amid vandalism and anti-social behaviour and have never re-opened despite pressure from the town council and tourism bosses, who argue that more public loos are needed.