Clocktower public toilets to close

The public toilets at the Crocq in Guernsey are set to close in May following a decision at a parish meeting.

St Sampson's Parish Douzaine currently funds the facilities but said it faced an escalating cost to maintain them.

In 2022 around £7,000 was required to fund the upkeep but the budget has increased to an estimated £21,000 for 2025, the parish said.

St Sampson's Parish Douzaine has been paying for the upkeep of the toilets since Guernsey Harbours withdrew its funding in 2018.

St Sampson constables Adrian Dilcock and Joe Abbots said costs had increased dramatically in excess of inflation due to successive increases in the Guernsey minimum wage, periodic vandalism and the misuse of toilet paper."

They added there was anecdotal evidence toilet paper was being stolen, and there was a "significant cost" associated with plumbing work to unblock toilets.

It is estimated renovations to the facilities could also cost between £50,000 and £75,000.

With the costs rising, the constables said they approached Guernsey Harbours to see if it would be happy to contribute again, but it declined.

The decision was made at a parish meeting to permanently close the toilets on 3 May.

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