Toilets block gets new life '“ as café

LOOS in Aldwick are to have a new lease of life.

The public conveniences in Marine Park Gardens are set to be transformed into a café.

At their meeting last Wednesday, Arun District Council’s development and control committee, decided to allow permission for the unused toilets to become tea rooms.

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Cllr Gillian Brown (Con, Aldwick) said: “I support this application.

“We have had a similar thing done to other toilets in Aldwick within West Park and it has worked very well.”

The café would provide seating for up to 18 customers.

There will be a kitchen area, public toilets and a landscaped patio to the front of the building.

There will also be space for patrons to sit outside.

Food such as paninis, sandwiches and toasties will be served as well as teas 
and coffees. There will be no cooking or frying of food on the premises.

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Cllr Ricky Bower (Con, East Preston) said: “I think it’s a good thing as there are not any cafés there.

“The toilets are used by a lot of people and not actually completely getting rid of the public conveniences, I think it really makes sense.

“I can support this application.”

Alterations to the outside of the building will be minimal, and will seek to retain the traditional character and appearance of the structure.

The park has recently been awarded green flag status.

Although the café will not be a tourist attraction in its own right, it is hoped a healthy trade will be generated by visitors to the seafront some 30 meters away.

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It is proposed the café will be open to the public from 10.30am until 6.30pm, daily through March to June.

This would be extended in the peak holiday months of July and August from 9.30am to 7pm.

In September and October, this would reduce to 10.30am until 5pm.

The café is expected to be open on bank holidays, too, and would create three part-time jobs and one full-time job.

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A condition to make sure opening hours are stuck to because of nearby residential homes was also made.

The committee voted 11 in favour to allow the permission with one abstention.

No objections to the plans were received.