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Budget 2007-8

COUNCIL INVESTS £0.8M IN PUBLIC TOILETS

SEVEN public toilets will be rebuilt or refurbished in an £800,000 drive to upgrade conveniences across the Island.

And in addition, a further £50,000 will be spent on providing attendants to man loos at the busiest periods throughout the year.

The attendants will ensure that the toilets are clean and fully stocked when they are in greatest use.

The cash has been found by the IW Council because the state of public loos was highlighted as an area of major concern by Islanders during recent consultations including the One Island round of public meetings.

In response to that, the council will fund the full refurbishment of three toilets in tourist areas. That work will be completed by the end of May. The locations of those are being finalised.

A further four toilets will be completely rebuilt in the course of the new financial year. Two of those will be in Brading and Wootton where the respective town and parish councils will be empowered - and financed - to take on the running of the facilities.

IW Council leader Andy Sutton said:

"This is not a quick fix either. Not only, after listening to what the public wanted, have we planned these immediate schemes to improve the public realm, we will commit cash each year to bring about a rolling programme of improvements."