Not enough places to GO in Enniscorthy!

By Dan Walsh

Cllr Jackser Owens moved a motion at today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, held with Microsoft Teams with regards to Covid-19 guidelines and protocols, “To have proper toilets installed in Enniscorthy.”

“We have one at (old) Dunnes Stores. We had one outside the Cotton Tree in the 70s or 80s, but the population of Enniscorthy is 12,500 – the population of the district is about 30,000 and we have one toilet – it is just not good enough in 2021. We need proper toilets for the people of Enniscorthy and now I need a seconder (Cllr Cathal Byrne).”

Cllr John O’Rourke added his support and asked the meeting if members got an email from a company (un-named) that provide electronic portable toilets. Other members didn’t get the email but Cllr O’Rourke promised to circulate his copy amongst his fellow members and he already had passed the information to the District Manager Ger Mackey.

Support also from Cllr Aidan Browne. “With so much happening outdoors, it is badly needed.”

Director of Services Carolyne Godkin said the toilet unit in the old Dunne Stores carpark is under contract for another number of years and suggested it could be re-located down near The Promenade but the numbers using it is not sufficient in terms of the cost.

These are expensive to provide but Ms Godkin indicated that post-Covid days there may be a small bit of support if businesses were willing to allow their toilets to be used by members of the public. That is something that she asked the members to consider.

Cllr Jackser Owens felt The Promenade would be ideal because there is good footfall towards the playground and the Country Walk every day.

Ms Godkin was aware of the electronic toilets that Cllr O’Rourke mentioned. “It is an automatic toilet and they are really expensive to install and there are maintenance contracts and even the ones at Curracloe, Kilmore Quay and Duncannon employ paid staff to clean them several times a day, so, no matter what way you do it there is an expense.” And anti-social behaviour can be an issue!

Cllr Owens came back to the meeting and suggested closing at 6 o’clock in the evening – I’m talking about shopping hours when people are in town – We could have people on schemes looking after them and locking up at 6 o’clock in the evening!