‘Let’s just get this sorted’
A Northern Ireland “city without a toilet” is to make a new public facility a top priority.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s recent corporate committee heard concerns of years of delays and cross-party lobbying without a plan for a loo.
A report on council priority projects was presented to the chamber for the next 12 months with Dundonald Ice Bowl’s £64m redevelopment first on the list, but no sign of toilets.
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Downshire West DUP Alderman Allan Ewart said: “As you know I have been pushing for toilets in Lisburn city centre. If that was agreed by the council that we push ahead, is this report saying we won’t be able to do it in the next year?”
New signage to direct people to usable toilets in Lisburn were recently put up in March after four years of campaigning by a councillor with a kidney disorder.
Lisburn South DUP Alderman Paul Porter added: “I think Allan might be being too soft there. I am very proud of what we do here as elected members, but for years we were known as the city without a toilet.
“The fact that we have to lobby so hard. Several councillors from several parties. So I don’t think there is any confusion in the direction of travel.
“But I just want to make sure we are not here at the end of September or November and before you know it we are round robin again. Let’s just get this sorted.”
The council website shows that the local authority operates four public toilets in the total district of more than 150,000 people, with two in Lisburn at Wallace Park and Castle Gardens and one each in Moira and Royal Hillsborough. There are no opening times listed for the toilets.
The most up-to-date public survey carried out by the council (2022) revealed 64% of respondents still being dissatisfied by the public toilet provision even after being shown an online map of their location.
CEO David Burns responded: “The report is definitely not saying that. What we will do is for the governance and audit committee to bring forward a report in June to identify the projects of each directorate.
“I would fully expect your request to feature on there. Members did give a clear indication that they would like a report back and the workload has been reprioritised to deal with that.”
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