A COUNCIL spent £80,000 renovating public toilets that had been in a “poor state of repair”.

Lewes District Council reopened the toilets in Western Road in Lewes on August 11 following the refurbishment.

It said a “combination of cuts in government funding for local authorities, antisocial behaviour and vandalism” had left the facilities in a poor state.

The council has also installed a "parklet" in Western Road that provides seating, planters and secure parking for bikes.

A council spokesman said the renovation and maintenance of the toilets had been a priority since the Co-operative Alliance took control of Lewes District Council.

Councillor Johnny Denis, lead member for communities and customers, said: “We made a promise to improve the public toilets in the district and the opening of the Western Road facilities is proof positive of that commitment.

“The toilets have been transformed and reflecting a standard that we want to achieve within all our public conveniences.”

Councillor Matthew Bird, lead member for sustainability, said: “With the refurbished public toilets and the new parklet now in place, the experience for passersby and the street scene generally has greatly improved.

“The public realm is important and has been neglected in the past, but the Co-operative Alliance is determined to reverse that trend and I’m delighted that so many people are pleased with the progress we are making.”