Funding bids for Changing Places toilets in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Arundel

Government funding has become available in the last few weeks to allow local authorities like Arun to provide new Changing Places toilets.

The proposed locations are: Regis Centre car park, Bognor Regis, Wildfowl and Wetland Centre, Arundel, Hotham Park, Bognor Regis, Coastguard toilets, Littlehampton and Arundel town centre.

There are currently two Changing Places facilities across the district at Aldingbourne Country Centre and The Wave Leisure Centre, Littlehampton.

Samantha-Jayne Staniforth (Con, Orchard) said: “As a mum who has changed a child on a toilet floor – because these facilities were not available when my son was younger – I can’t tell you how important these are.”

Amanda Worne (LDem, Yapton) also agreed the toilets are essential for disabled people.

As the funding became available with no prior warning, council officers have focussed on submitting bids for sites in Bognor Regis and Arundel before the September 26 deadline.

This means that a public consultation has not taken place, but ten access groups have been contacted for their thoughts on the plans with six responding.

Over the next decade, the council will commit to funding for toilet upkeep if the bids are successful.

Council officers originally planned to bid for funding for four new facilities but Grant Roberts (Con, Arundel and Walberton) called for a further Arundel bid.

He said: “Guidelines show we could be eligible for ‘significantly more funding’ as they are only a suggestion.