Why the portaloos?

Our Visitor Centre toilet facilities are connected to a septic tank that was installed around 2001. At the time, the system was designed to accommodate approximately 25 visitors per day, although additional capacity was built in to help extend its operational lifespan.

Since then, visitor numbers have grown significantly beyond those original projections. As a result, the septic tank has been operating beyond its intended capacity for several years and has struggled to meet the demands placed upon it. More recently, age-related deterioration has further affected the system’s performance, ultimately resulting in a complete failure and the need for replacement. We have been fortunate to experience a long, dry summer, as periods of high groundwater typically place additional strain on the system and can create further complications.

The situation is made more complex by the fact that the septic tank is owned by our landlord, Defra, who is therefore responsible for both the replacement project and the temporary arrangements required in the meantime.

Defra has committed to replacing the existing system with a higher-capacity installation that will better meet both current visitor demand and projected future growth. We are extremely grateful for this investment in the site’s infrastructure.

While the new facilities are being planned and installed, we will be relying on temporary portable toilets. We appreciate that these are not an ideal substitute, but we will do everything possible to ensure they are kept clean, well-maintained, and serviced regularly to provide the best experience we can for our visitors.

Once work on the replacement system begins, there will inevitably be some disruption as excavation works are carried out and drainage connections are rerouted. However, we will make every effort to minimise the impact on visitors and ensure that the Visitor Centre remains as welcoming and accessible as possible throughout the project.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while these essential improvements are completed.

At the moment, we don’t have any timescales for this work. But we will keep this page update as and when we find out more.