An ‘atrocious’ set of park toilets in Brighton are set to be refurbished thanks to a petition signed by more than 1,000 people.

Francis Incorvaja, operator of Rotunda Café, started a petition five weeks ago to refurbish the public toilets at Preston Park.

Mr Incorvaja claims he had complained to the council about the condition of the toilets near Preston Park for more than ten years without response.

He said: “For over a decade, me, my customers and visitors to the park have complained about the terrible condition of the public toilets.

“It reflects badly on my business. I’ve spent a lot of money on the inside of the café but the outside looks atrocious because the toilets reflect on my café.”

Mr Incorvaja also said that the upkeep of the toilets is very poor and the inside of the cubicles are visible to people outside the toilets.

“I’ve been here for 13 years and there’s never been any money spent on them. For a park this size, it’s embarrassing.”

Preston Park Ward candidates from the Conservative Party have joined Mr Incorvaja’s cause, stating that parents would rather take their children home than use the toilets and that mothers are refusing to change babies there for fear of infection and disease.

Lee Wares, Preston Park Conservative candidate, presented the petition at last Thursday’s full council meeting, which convinced all attending councillors that the toilets needed to be refurbished.

He said: “The bottom line is: this is not a political issue, it involves local residents and businesses.

“I’ve seen the toilets myself and my opinion is the same as the residents. It is in a state of disrepair.

“I appreciate the unanimous support of councillors who recognised that this type of regeneration is not only vital for the city but essential for the thousands of visitors to the park.

A city council spokesperson said that a report with costed options and a timetable for the refurbishment of Preston Park toilets would be put to the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on October 7.