Temporary toilets costing €15,000 after arson attack
It’s costing Galway City Council a ‘pretty penny’ for visitors in Salthill to ‘spend a penny’ at the temporary toilets along the Prom.
Labour Party City Councillor Niall McNelis claims it is costing €15,000 for the next three months to service the four portable toilets that have been put in place along the Promenade in Salthill.
The temporary toilets have been rented from a private operator, with two each placed at Blackrock and Ladies Beach.
They were hired after permanent Council toilets were damaged by fire in a suspected arson incident last November, which is still under investigation by Gardaí.
Cllr McNelis says the temporary toilets will be in place until mid-September at a cost of at least €15,000.
The outlay is necessary because it is the height of the tourist season but it is expenditure that could have been well spent elsewhere, he said.
“That’s the cost of vandalism,” said Cllr McNelis.
The local authority has confirmed that it is about to appoint a contractor to carry out the upgrade of the toilets that were vandalised.
Tenders were sought and an announcement is imminent, he said.
“When the toilets are repaired there will be three toilets, rather than the four that are there at present. However, instead of a fourth toilet there will be the addition of a changing room and shower facility. As soon as the contracts are signed, works will commence and it is expected to take approximately nine weeks before they reopen. We are looking at mid-September before they are opened. In the meantime four temporary toilets have been rented. These are cleaned on a daily basis at great cost. My understanding it is costing at least €15,000 for the temporary facilities for three months. That is the cost of vandalism,” said Cllr McNelis.
He welcomed confirmation that the temporary swimming ban in Salthill was lifted last week, and praised the Council for communicating swiftly with all stakeholders and interested parties.