Goring beach hut owner left frustrated by toilet and tap issues

Michele Spicer had always wanted to own a private beach hut and, after experiencing a difficult period, she made her dream purchase earlier this year to mark ‘a new start’ in her life.

She currently lives in Oxfordshire but has been driving down to Sussex – where she grew up and plans to move back to soon – to spend time at the hut.

However, she said issues with the toilet and tap facilities near the huts in Sea Placer have made this difficult.

The public toilet by the beach huts was closed for a long time – which meant that after a 120 mile drive down to the area, she was left having to search for another site to use.

She said the toilet was only opened up after she repeatedly contacted the council about it, which was ‘a huge relief’.

The council said its influence over the facility was limited as, while it is situated on council-owned land, local apartment owners pay for the maintenance of it through their service charge.

These residents have previously called for the council to take on responsibility for the toilet – read more here.

Michele said there was also a water tap by the beach huts for owners to use, but this has been locked for a ‘good few months’.

“It’s a pain,” she said. “There are 90-year-old owners, how are they going to carry a container of water down?

“It’s totally impractical and unjust.”

She said it was frustrating considering that beach hut owners pay a yearly license fee of £680 to the council.

A Worthing Borough Council spokesman said the water tap was shut off during the lockdown period.

The council is currently awaiting the results of water quality testing before switching it back on again, the spokesman said.