Update on new public toilet facilities in East Devon

Over the past few months, East Devon District Council been working hard to deliver modern, accessible and sustainable toilet blocks in key locations across the district.

New facilities are now open in Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Honiton and Seaton, offering upgraded, high-quality amenities to all. Full details are available.

Teething issues and our response 

As with any major infrastructure upgrade, the rollout hasn’t been without its challenges. Some sites experienced construction delays, resulting in later-than-expected openings – and the Council want to thank you for bearing with them as they have worked through these issues. 

Most seriously, they are aware of an incident last weekend in which a member of the public became stuck in a cubicle due to a fault with the door mechanism. This was understandably distressing for the individual involved, and the council want to extend their sincere apologies that this happened. They have investigated what went wrong and are taking the necessary steps to ensure this cannot happen again. They have already arranged for the repairs to be carried out, with all costs covered by the contractor, not the public. 

They are committed to learning from the initial rollout and continuously improving how we deliver and operate these essential facilities. 

In the coming weeks, the Council will be: 

• Inspecting all door locks across the new toilet blocks to ensure they are working safely and consistently. (We’ve replaced a number of locks as a preventative measure.) 

• Improving the emergency response procedures, including exploring the introduction of an automatic door release system to prevent lock-in incidents if a payment or locking mechanism fails. 

• Installing clearer signage at each site to provide users with essential safety and operational information, such as who to contact for help and how to report any issues. 

• Actively working with staff and suppliers to implement the lessons from what went wrong and strengthen communication between teams so we can better support everyone who uses our services. 

Sustainable, pay-to-use system 

To support the long-term upkeep of our upgraded facilities, a small contactless fee is now required at each location. This contribution goes directly toward essential maintenance and cleaning, helping us keep the toilets safe, clean and accessible for everyone. 

The Council heard concerns from some users about challenges with the new payment system and are actively working to address them. Clearer signage is being developed, and they are taking steps to better accommodate users with visual or hearing impairments. 

Supporting accessibility 

They are pleased to have secured funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to help them install essential, specialist equipment for people with severe disabilities. 

This funding enables the inclusion of accessible Changing Places toilets, allowing more people to use public facilities safely, comfortably, and with dignity. 

Thank you 

While providing public toilets is not a statutory requirement for local authorities, the Council recognise how essential they are, both for supporting the local communities and for helping East Devon remain a welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike.  

They would like to thank everyone for their patience and feedback so far. These facilities represent a significant investment in the well-being and accessibility of our public amenities, and we are committed to ensuring they meet the highest possible standards.