'Disgusting' beach loos get revamp

VISITORS HAVE COMPLAINED AT SMELL FROM TOILET BLOCK

- By MARY HARRIS

THE “disgusting” toilets at a picturesque bay in Kent could be a thing of the past.

A six-week refurbishment is due to start in June at the loos in Botany Bay in Broadstairs, thanks to the works by Southern Water, said Thanet District Council.

While this secluded bay with its soft sands and gentle swimming conditions is a jewel in the glittering coast of Kent, and it has Blue Flag status, its toilets on busy days have been slated.

From at least as far back as 2019, to last year, the state of the toilets has been mentioned in reviews of Botany Bay.

People have complained about the cleanliness, the smell of them, there not being enough toilets, or enough paper.

One person said in their review last year on Tripadvisor: “Went to go to the beach for fossil hunting but the smell of urine and seeing it run down the path to the beach, we turned away and didn’t bother.”

Another review, also from August last year, said: “The public toilets were the most disgusting I have ever used. We arrived on Monday lunchtime and there was no toilet roll, overflowing sanitation bins with soiled tissue on the floor and a very strong smell of old urine, indicating they had not been cleaned since the weekend.