Public toilets in a dire state of repair will be refurbished in a “much-needed” £1.5million makeover.

Thanet District Council (TDC) has committed to splashing out on repairing 10 public toilets across Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs and at the towns’ beaches in the first phase of an improvement programme.

The move to sort out the loos has been welcomed as a “fundamental” upgrade to the seaside destinations with work hoped to be done in time for next summer.

At a meeting of TDC’s cabinet yesterday, cabinet member Cllr Steve Albon told members: “This will focus on addressing existing defects and is not a full refurbishment of the toilets but they will return them to a much higher standard of repair.”

Of the total cost of the project, £1.25m is from the local authority and £250,000 is “anticipated although not yet approved via an external grant from Southern Water,” Cllr Albon confirmed.

Some of the plans - such as the renovations of the Botany Bay public toilets in Broadstairs - are dependent on Southern Water providing the funding, which TDC has been in conversation with the firm about.

If that funding is not received, the works in Botany Bay will be limited to repairs only.

Cllr Albon added: “This investment is proposed to be the start of an anticipated wider and longer-term programme of public toilet improvements subject to further funding being identified.”

Cllr Reece Pugh (Con), the council’s opposition leader, said at the meeting: “I really welcome this, I think it’s much-needed, it’s a long time coming.

“When you think of many of the visitors to the district that come to the beaches and of course the state of disrepair that some of our toilets are in I, think it’s probably one of the first things that they see, and we need to do better.”

Council leader Cllr Rick Everitt (Lab) explained the council is in conversations with contractor Your Leisure about taking over and reopening some formerly closed public toilets.

But he stated there are currently no firm plans for that proposal.

“The main priority for us has been making sure that there are some works done before next season on the toilets that most urgently need them,” Cllr Everitt added.

There are 27 public lavatories across Thanet, and the first wave of the project will see works to 10 of them.

Marcus Mohanty, who runs Lulu’s Gelato in Margate, said he “welcomes anything that's going to improve the infrastructure and make it [the area] more attractive”.

The state of the local loos is “something that a lot of people comment on when they come to visit,” the 49-year-old explained.

Portaloos in place of public toilets and decrepit lavatories are “just not good enough for a town that has got a very long seaside tradition and is a very popular place to visit in summer,” the businessman added.

Botany Bay resident Tina Hubbard previously told KentOnline of the dire state of facilities there, telling of “stale urine” and a nauseating smell as a result of people going to the toilet outdoors.

“On more than one occasion this summer the toilets overflowed, meaning the waste cascaded down the steps,” she said of the issues in October.

“Botany Bay and other beaches in the area were heavily advertised as a tourist destination.

“You can’t have several thousand people on the beach and keep the toilet situation we have.

“For people to feel they have to relieve themselves in the open is unacceptable.”

The toilets to be refurbished in the first wave are: West Bay, Westgate; St. Mildred’s Bay, Westgate; The Centre on Mill Lane, Margate; Margate Clocktower; Pier Yard, Ramsgate; Broadstairs Harbour; Joss Bay, Broadstairs; Viking Bay, Broadstairs; Stone Bay, Broadstairs; Botany Bay, Broadstairs

Before the end of October 2024 a new report will come to the cabinet explaining progress so far and proposals for which toilets to tackle next.