A toilet block which cost £140k and was opened just months ago has been closed after a suspected arson attack.

The toilets in Barton’s Point coastal park, between Minster and Sheerness on Sheppey, have been targeted by vandals for a second time since opening in July.

Fire crews attended the incident, which is believed to have been started deliberately, with two engines at around 4.20pm on Saturday, January 13.

All six toilets were damaged but all will be able to be reopened after deep cleaning, investigations and repairs have been carried out.

Cllr Elliot Jayes (Swale Independents), who represents Sheppey Central on Swale council, said he was “disgusted” by the damage.

Taking to social media, he said: “People moan the Island gets nothing. We have invested millions in the area since coming to power nearly five years ago including this new block and this is what happens.

“We are told there are more police than ever before in Kent. Where are they? Maidstone? Tunbridge Wells? Sevenoaks? Because they sure aren’t patrolling our Island.”

The police say they are working closely with businesses, schools and other organisations to ensure “there is a joined-up approach in tackling anti-social behaviour and other local concerns”.

An assessment of the block was going ahead yesterday (January, 15) to see when it can be reopened.

The council, which runs the coastal park, has asked anyone with any information that might help find those responsible to contact police.

Visitors had been without a toilet block when the previous facilities were knocked down. Then there was a £150,000 revamp of the park which also saw two new bridges and five benches.

This is the second time the toilets have been forced to shut in less than a year, with three of the toilets being closed in September after they were vandalised.

On a council social media post informing people of the closure, commenters shared their disgust.

One said: “What is the matter [with] people? They moan that there are no facilities. Then when there are, mindless people destroy them.”

Another added: “What the hell is wrong with people? Why would anyone destroy this?”

“The money having to be spent on repairing this pointless vandalism could go towards better things,” another commenter added. “I hope they get caught and made to pay the repair bill.”

The police were called to the incident at 4.45pm and are investigating the damage which they believe started as a small bin fire.

Inspector Vanessa Foster, from Swale’s Neighbourhood Task Force, said the police “ensure that officers patrol the area regularly” and “dedicated beat officers are a single point of contact for communities where residents can raise issues of concern”.

She added: “During the month of December, we received four reports of arson and criminal damage in the Minster Cliffs ward.

“PC Alison Honess is the beat officer for the Minster Cliffs ward and she has met and worked with a variety of businesses and organisations in the area.

“Kent Police works closely with local businesses, schools and other organisations to ensure there is a joined-up approach in tackling ASB and other local concerns.

“Anyone with concerns can report these via our website or can talk directly to their local officer and should any issue need escalating this will actioned accordingly.

“Residents wishing to find their local officers’ details can visit our website and search under the Your Area section.”