Council baulks at £115,000 cost of new Killough toilets

Council baulks at £115,000 cost of new Killough toilets

12 June 2013

DOWN Council is refusing to spend £115,000 of ratepayers’ money on a new public toilet block in Killough.

Councillors have described the cost as “exorbitant” and believe that such a facility could be provided for significantly less if it was being constructed by local builders.

News of the cost of providing a new toilet block, which does not include annual revenue costs, was confirmed at last week’s meeting of the local authority’s Building Control and Estates Committee.

Councillors say they recognise the importance of having toilet facilities for local people and visitors and have instructed council staff to speak with business owners in Killough to see if they would be prepared to allow their toilet facilities to be used by the public.

It is being suggested that business owners would be paid an annual fee for the use of their toilet facilities, but how much that would be has not yet been determined.

Councillor Gareth Sharvin, said that while not everyone may want to use toilet facilities in a bar, he recognised that the cost of Down Council providing a new public toilet in Killough was extremely high.

He also expressed concern that providing such a facility in the village could open the door to similar calls from other villages across the district and that drawing up a partnership arrangement with local businesses to allow their toilet facilities in Killough to be used could be the way forward.

Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe said he was in no doubt that local builders could construct a new toilet block for one third of the price Down Council has been quoted.

“It would seem that when public bodies are looking for equipment or require any work to be done that the price quoted by various contractors is increased. This is an issue which must be addressed,” he declared.

“To quote £115,000 for a new toilet block is exorbitant and really quite unbelievable.”

Council Director, Mrs. Marie Ward, conceded that the local authority could do some work around encouraging small builders to tender for some of its contract work.

The need for a new toilet block in Dundrum was also discussed at last week’s meeting and within hours of the debate, several Newcastle councillors accompanied by Mr. Colin Trohear, Director of Dundrum Development Association, identified a potential location for a new toilet block in the centre of the village.

They believe an overgrown strip of land beside Murlough Bay Court apartments and the Greenbanks development could be developed to provide and new public facility.