9 May 2012

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

TOWN centre businesses in Mid Sussex are opening their toilet facilities to the general public as part of a new Community Toilet Scheme.

Mid Sussex District Council is piloting the scheme in East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath, to maximise the number of clean, safe and accessible toilets available to the public.

Participating town centre shops and organisations make their toilet facilities available to the general public in exchange for a small annual payment from the Council.

So far, four local businesses have signed up and are now welcoming the public to use their toilet facilities. They are:

• Chequer Mead Arts Centre, De La Warr Road, East Grinstead
• Kings Leisure Centre, Moat Road, East Grinstead
• Costa Coffee, South Road, Haywards Heath
• Poppins Restaurant, Church Walk, Burgess Hill

Stickers are displayed in the window of every business taking part in the Community Toilet Scheme and additional signs will soon be placed around the towns to help direct the public to the new toilet facilities. By opening up the toilets in local businesses for public use, shoppers will have access to toilets at many different locations in the heart of the town centre and because they are always staffed, the facilities will be clean and safe to use. The facilities will be available during business opening hours and there is no charge to the customer or obligation to make a purchase.

“It’s great to see local businesses are embracing this Community Toilet Scheme because it has the potential to benefit everyone involved,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability. “Local shops are able to increase the number of people visiting their premises, giving them the potential to increase revenue, and the public has a greater choice and standard of toilet facilities.”

Mid Sussex District Council would now still like to hear from any other local businesses wishing to take part in the Community Toilet Scheme. For more information, please contact Stuart Brown, Mid Sussex District Council Outdoor Services Officer, on telephone number 01444 477305 or email Stuart.Brown@midsussex.gov.uk.

* The new public toilets in the King’s Street car park opposite the cinema in East Grinstead are expected to be opened by the end of May.  These will replace the toilet facilities in Cantelupe Road and the Norton Road car park, which will be closed once the new block is ready for use.