SANDOWN'S seafront toilets will reopen, as early as today (Tuesday), after community calls to the town council.

The public conveniences on Pier Street had been closed, due to safety reasons and are part of plans for new loos, a shop and a restaurant.

At a Sandown Town Council (STC) meeting last night (Monday), clerk Richard Priest said the town council had negotiated with the Isle of Wight Council — which owns the building — to reopen them once safe to do so.

Over the last two weeks, work has been carried out to make them fit for purpose, along with a deep clean and electrical checks.

Isle of Wight County Press:

In 2021, STC also worked with the Isle of Wight Council to open the toilets for the holiday season.

They are splitting the cost - at least £4,000  - to cover cleaning them over the summer.

At the meeting, Sandown Mayor, Cllr Paddy Lightfoot, described it as a 'significant' but unexpected investment for STC.

He said 'hopefully this time next year' the new development would be complete.

Isle of Wight County Press: An artist's impression of the Pier Street toilet. Picture by ERMC.An artist's impression of the Pier Street toilet. Picture by ERMC.

The Isle of Wight Council's toilet and site regeneration plans have stalled since they were approved in 2020 and work is yet to start.

The local authority is in the process of selling the site to a developer, who will then complete the project.

At the other end of the Esplanade, new public toilets are a step closer.