KINSALE could lose out on the lucrative bus tour trade this summer if new public toilets are not in place ahead of the busy tourism season, a meeting heard last week.
At the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District meeting, the ongoing issue about proposed new toilets was raised by several councillors who queried if the planned new unisex toilets will be ready for the summer season ahead.
Councillors grudgingly approved revised proposals for the controversial toilets last year which are to include three unisex toilets and one disabled toilet at the Towns Plot site.
There are currently two temporary toilets at that same location but they cannot cater for the large number of people wanting to use the facility.
Municipal district officer Brian Dunne said they have been engaging with an archaeological team as some conservation issues need to be teased out.
He said they do not have a timeframe as such but are making headway and have procured contractors but could not give a date for the commencements of works.
However, Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) said councillors only agreed to the revised proposed plans for the toilets and they thought they would be in place by the summer.
‘If they are not ready then I suggest we abort the project,’ said Cllr Coleman.
Chair of the municipal district, Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF), noted that it was a condition that the new toilets would be ready for this summer.
‘We need new public toilets in the old or new place this summer,’ said Cllr Coughlan.
‘The public toilet issue in Kinsale was even mentioned to me while in Brussels last week by someone who had been in Kinsale, and wasn’t impressed with the toilets provision,’ she said.
Cllr Marie O’Sullivan (FG) said it was reported to her that some tour bus operators will not come down to Kinsale due to the lack of public toilets in the town.
‘My heart goes out to the two women in the tourist office as they are getting it in the neck from members of the public about the temporary toilets not functioning,’ said Cllr O’Sullivan, who welcomed the fact that the toilets at the harbourmaster’s office are open to the public.
However, municipal district manager for Bandon Kinsale Municipal District Padraig Barrett urged councillors to be patient on this.
‘Once we can resolve these issues we will brief all councillors,’ he said.
