IT MAY have beautiful views and a chilled coastal vibe.

But there's one thing that matters most to people who visit Lymington Quay: toilets.

Results from the Lymington Quay consultation have revealed that 93 per cent of the 800 people who responded to the exercise over the summer said they were 'very' important.

Public toilets were the standout answer for ‘what facilities do you think should be provided at the Quay?’ with 47 per cent indicating this, followed by showers at 27 per cent.

a quarter of people wanted more seating with 21 per cent asking about car parking. Nearly all respondents - 98 per cent - said visitors were important to the area.

New Forest District Council, Lymington and Pennington Town Council and the Lymington Harbour Commission carried out the consultation exercise during August and September concerning improvements to Lymington Quay.

The aim of the survey was to get an understanding of the views of residents, businesses, and visitors to the Quay to inform improvement plans for the area.

With NFDC aiming to modernise the 25 year old public toilets, LHC looking to improve the shower facilities, and LPTC keen to look at using the area more for events, all three partners wanted to involve the community at an early stage.

Councillor Alison Hoare, NFDC portfolio holder for environment and regulatory services, said: “The town is important for the economy of the area, with the Quay being one of the town’s main focal points.

“I am grateful to everyone that took the time to complete the questionnaire and we now have some valuable views from residents and visitors to inform our plans going forward."

*Full survey results are available at http://www.newforest.gov.uk/LymQuay