Security checks at Foyle Ferry terminal at Magilligan have officially ended, but now the managing director of the company running the cross-border service is worried toilets within the compound will be closed to travellers.
Officials from Limavady Borough Council completed the handover to Jim McLenaghan of the Lough Foyle Ferry Company on Tuesday.
“The security checks did us a lot of harm,” said Mr. McLenaghan, “but now we hear the toilets are to be locked. I’m not h
appy about this at all.”
“We had two busloads of people the other day. If that happens again, where are people to go? What’s Limavady Council for if they don’t provide toilets? To think of the toilets locked up is a big waste.”
He added: “We need to keep the toilets open, especially being so close to the beach.”
Director of Development Services at Limavady Borough Council, Valerie Richmond said Council only learned recently that the operator did not want to make use of the building. She said now the checks have ended, there is no one to staff the building, which is where the toilets are located.However, she did pledge to keep the issue under review.
East Derry Sinn Féin MLA, Francie Brolly welcomed the end of the controversial checks.
Appeal
“While this will remove the hassle created through this unwarranted obstacle to free travel between Magilligan and Moville I would appeal to Limavady Council to ensure that the public toilets, which are contained within this compound, remain accessible to travellers.
“I would also like to thank Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy without whose intervention this unilateral imposition of security measures between two places on the island of Ireland by the British authorities would still prevail.”
The full article contains 296 words and appears in Journal Friday DER Edition newspaper.
