Information for interested ECTS participants

Through the Eastbourne Community Toilet Scheme (ECTS), Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) and local business and community organisations are working in partnership to provide the level and availability of toilet provision required by Eastbourne's community. 

Local businesses and community groups wishing to join the scheme can register their interest.

Register your interest

Here are some commonly asked questions about the scheme. 

How does the scheme work? 

Any local business or community organisation can join the scheme where they are able to make clean, safe and accessible toilets available to the public. The community toilets are open for regular hours and, where applicable, do not require users to make a purchase.

Once a business/organisation has joined the Scheme, the council provides a sticker for their window confirming their participation in the scheme and the services available. The business/organisation ensures that their staff and volunteers are aware of the scheme so that the public can gain access to the community toilet as intended. The council also maintains a map of all facilities within the scheme which can be accessed on the council's website and via the QR code that is on the window stickers and the signs across the town.

What does a business/organisation have to do to operate a community toilet? 

• Register their interest in joining the scheme - Eastbourne Community Toilet Scheme registration form
• Sign a scheme participant agreement with the council. This will include confirmation of the date from which the community toilet comes into effect
• Ensure all staff and volunteers who would be interacting with users of the community toilet are aware of the scheme so that the public can gain access to the facility in line with the scheme agreement
• Operate the community toilet in line with the scheme agreement
• Display a sticker in their window confirming their participation in the scheme and the services available
• Notify the council if any of the details relating to their community toilet change. For example,the hours of operation, the facilities available - or if they wish to withdraw from the scheme
• Ensure that public liability and, if applicable, buildings insurance are in place for their premises, which includes coverage for members of the public to use the facilities in accordance with the scheme agreement

What does the council do to support the community toilet scheme? 

• Supports businesses/organisations interested in participating in the scheme
• Checks in with community toilet operators to ensure everything is working as it should be
• Ensures information about the scheme is up to date and accurate
• Promotes the scheme, the operators and encourages other businesses and community organisations to consider participating in the scheme
• Monitors the standard of cleanliness and maintenance for the community toilets

Does provision of a community toilet affect an operator's insurance?

The council advises all potential operators to: 

• have public liability insurance and, if applicable, buildings insurance, in place for their premises
• have notified their insurers of their participation in the scheme and to have received confirmation that their cover extends to members of the public using the facilities in accordance with the scheme agreement (which could include use of the facilities without making a purchase) or their cover has been updated to reflect the new use as a community toilet.

Do community toilets need to be available at all times? 

No - different community toilets operate different opening hours. As part of scheme participant agreement signing process, the operator and the council agree the opening hours for the facility. The council publicises the agreed opening hours, and the operator ensures the facilities are open for the agreed opening hours (with any temporary or permanent changes being confirmed to the council as soon as possible).

Is there a charge to use the community toilets?

Not necessarily - different community toilets operate different arrangements. Most community toilets are free to use, and some ask for a small fee to access the facilities. Irrespective of the charging arrangements in place for each community toilet, users do not need to make a purchase where the toilet is located in a shop, café, and so on.

For how long does a community toilet agreement last? 

The standard agreement period to participate in the scheme is 3 years. This helps to create stability within the scheme and prevents the need to re-organise and update records more frequently. This is, however, negotiable, and participants are able to withdraw from the scheme at any time. Where a community toilet operator wishes to withdraw from the scheme early, this should be communicated to the council by giving 28 days written notice. The notice helps to reduce confusion for the council, the operator and the public. Where an operator withdraws from the scheme, the council's online information will be updated within 28 days of receiving the notice, and printed material/signage will be updated as soon as is practicable. 

Operators can also be removed from the scheme if they fail to meet the standards set out in the community toilet participant agreement. 

Are operators expected to allow individuals that are a causing a nuisance to use their community toilet? 

No - although the community toilets are available to all of the public without exception or discrimination, operators are entitled to expect the same standards of behaviour they would from other customers/users of their facilities. Operators have the right to refuse entry to anyone who would normally be refused entry to their premises. If someone is causing a nuisance, operators can ask them to behave appropriately, leave or, in extreme cases, bar them.

Can children enter licensed premises to use a community toilet? 

Yes - children are permitted to go into a bar/pub to use a community toilet if they are accompanied by an adult and they don't remain in the venue afterwards.

Who is responsible for the standards offered in community toilets? 

The operator is responsible for ensuring the facilities are, and continue to be, suitable. The council operates a periodic spot check monitoring process to ensure standards are being maintained across the scheme, with the findings shared with the operators on an individual basis.

Will the Eastbourne Community Toilet Scheme be expected to provide sufficient facilities for large events in the town? 

Event organisers are advised of the operation of the scheme and are required to incorporate toilet provision into their event planning and, where necessary, they will need to arrange additional, temporary toilet provision for their event.