Sandown Town Council would like to apologise for issues experienced accessing toilets at Eastern Gardens and Yaverland over the festive period.
During this period, multiple sites across the Bay have been targeted by individuals jamming locks and damaging entry mechanisms, rendering the facilities inoperable. This coupled with the adverse weather has resulted in automated systems triggering protective shutdowns, significantly limiting access for residents, visitors, and local businesses. While these issues were addressed as quickly as possible once the council or its contractors were notified there was inevitably periods where the toilets were out of use either before they were notified of any issues or while parts were ordered.
A spokesperson for the Council said:
“These incidents are not minor acts of mischief—they are deliberate attempts to damage public infrastructure relied upon by Sandown residents and visitors every day. The resulting shutdowns have impacted vulnerable people, caused inconvenience and increased maintenance costs.
The Council has made a significant investment in providing clean, safe, and accessible public amenities. Acts of vandalism undermine that commitment and impact the whole community. We encourage anyone who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour near these facilities to report it immediately.”