New public toilets plan for Storrington

New public toilets could be built in Storrington as part of plans submitted by the village's parish council.
HOR 081011 Aerial photo. Storrington. The library is near the bottom. photo by derek martin ENGSNL00120111010105149HOR 081011 Aerial photo. Storrington. The library is near the bottom. photo by derek martin ENGSNL00120111010105149
HOR 081011 Aerial photo. Storrington. The library is near the bottom. photo by derek martin ENGSNL00120111010105149

An application for a unisex wheelchair accessible facility in the library car park in North Street has been lodged with Horsham District Council.

Storrington and Sullington Parish Council is looking to build the detached building on land assigned to it by HDC.

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Anna Worthington-Leese, parish council chairman, said: “The provision of public toilets has been of paramount importance to the parish council for some years and it was hoped that these would be provided by Waitrose as part of the plans to extend the Storrington store.

“Since these plans were cancelled by Waitrose, the parish council has been working with Horsham District Council to find a solution and I am delighted that we have been able to progress to the planning application stage.

“The public toilet will be a huge benefit to the community and we hope that it will encourage more people to visit our shops and facilities and spend more time in the village.

“We are currently inviting quotes for the contract and hope to be in a position to commence the project later this year subject to the planning permission being granted.”

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According to the application: “Storrington currently has no public toilet facilities within the village centre and it is hoped that the erection for this building will provide much needed toilet facilities for the community and visiting members of the public.

“The parish council will be arranging the construction and ongoing maintenance costs involved with the project. It was decided by council to provide a single unisex wheelchair accessible WC, available for use by members of the public. The facility will be cleaned and replenished daily but will have no on-site attendants.”

The building would have a red-facing brick facade with a tiled roof and steel faced access doors, and would be located on the site of the current electric car charging points, which are due to be replaced and relocated.

The parish council did look at whether the new toilet could be built to full Changing Places standards but this was found not to be possible because it will remain in an unattended building.

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The application describes how due to a lack of on-site staff, vulnerability to vandalism, health and safety and manual handling risks associated with any hoist installed the facility would be difficult to manage.

To view the plans visit HDC’s website using code DC/18/0671.

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