‘Island’s prettiest toilets’ back in use

Senior constable Paul Le Pelley and douzenier Chris Pattimore have been trying to reopen the St Sampson’s facility since it was taken out of use three years ago.

As well as new door signs being attached this morning, the restrooms have been fitted with new locks, a new roof and cost-effective lighting.

Mr Pattimore said the older switch lighting configuration would have cost £760 annually, which has been cut down to £50 with lights that turn on only if someone walks in.

‘One of the main expenses when running a 24-hour toilet is that kids will come and vandalise. The toilets will be open 7am-7pm to stop vandalism, with the disabled toilets having a R.A.D.A.R key. All registered will have one.

‘We believe they will have potential for high usage because of the harbour, but they are not just for marina users. We feel the need for them to be opened again.’

Deputy Le Pelley said: ‘South Side needs one [toilets], as it is a thriving side to the Bridge, so we wanted to open one. We are critical of ours being closed and others around the island because if you are serious about trying to get people to visit the island, you need good quality and functioning toilets.’

Both believed public toilets have been shut over the years because of costs and vandalism.

The restrooms will receive a daily clean from AFM, which also cleans the Delancey Park toilets. These are two of the few such facilities on the island run by a douzaine.

‘It will be policed with CCTV from the Bridge on the exterior, and we are going to have community police officers, douzeniers and constables check up on them as well.’

There will be a trial period of 12 months to allow the toilets’ return to become known and at the end of the year the parish will be asking people to put a penny on the rates to ‘spend a penny’.

‘Some work still needs to be done, but we’re just trying to do our little bit for the parish.’