Limavady councillors got so bogged down in debate on Tuesday that a discussion over the provision of public toilets in Ballykelly ended in stalemate.
Councillors were asked for direction from officers on the matter since nothing has happened since 1993 when the toilet issue first arose.
In 1994, planning permission to locate five toilets next to Tommy’s Fish and Chip Shop was granted, but nothi
ng happened. Drawings and costings were drawn up in 2005, but again there was no advancement. In 2007, a further application was made for the same location for a single unisex toilet with changing, but that application was withdrawn .
On Tuesday at a Technical Services meeting, Sinn Fein Colr. John Felix McElhinney said the toilets should not be put beside Tommy’s but rather at the top of the larger carpark up the road or where the old Orange Hall was.
UUC Colr. Boyd Douglas said when members set the rate earlier in the year, “we agreed for toilets in Ballykelly”.
“Finding a site might not be that easy, but it needs to be on the main arterial route, “ he said.
DUP Colr. George Robinson said it was an issue that council should not give up, and that Council should press on.
However, Director of Environmental Services, Noel Crawford said that if Council put the toilets where some councillors wanted - on the land leased by Council near Tommy’s - there would be nowhere to put the Christmas tree.
“Do you want us to abandon toilets or do you want us to look at the option of private land?” said Mr. Crawford.
Colr. Cubitt proposed to build the toilets on the land leased by Council. The proposal was defeated with all the nationalist councillors voting against.
Mr. Cubitt, who said residents and traders were being denied a basic human right, accused chairman SDLP Colr. Michael Carten of being a disgrace because of his involvement with the local community association.
However Colr. Carten defended his vote saying he had nothing against toilets, but that they should not be placed beside Tommy’s.
The Mayor, Sinn Fein Colr. Brenda Chivers also got a dig with some councillors saying she was supposed to be representing all the people.
However, Mayor Chivers rejected the accusation, saying: “I have nothing whatsoever against toilets in Ballykelly, but that’s a very busy intersection with people trying to get parked.”
