Council asks local businesses to help out as Charleville faces issues with public toilets 

Local councillors Aileen Browne and Ian Doyle described the issue as a 'third world' problem

The council also heard there are no proper bus shelters in the town, and the councillors said elderly bus users are often left standing in the rain. Picture: Dan Linehan

Senior officials at Cork County Council are to ask businesses in a North Cork town make their toilets available to the public after repeated issues with the public facilities. 

Charleville has been experiencing ‘third world’ problems, according to local councillors Aileen Browne and Ian Doyle, who have highlighted ongoing problems with public toilets. 

The men’s and women’s public toilet at the top of Broad Street, adjacent to Main Street, were out of action for a considerable length of time last year due to plumbing difficulties and ESB supply outages.

Ms Browne said that under urban regeneration funding new toilets will be built at the town plaza, “but they are some years away from construction".

She asked officials if they could bring in portaloos if the toilets become unusable again but is cost prohibitive, officials said.

Instead, council managers said they would ask local businesses to help out.

Separately, Mr Doyle asked when proper bus shelters are to be built for the town.

Ms Browne said there are on average 300 buses passing through the town every week, including the Expressway, Intercity and Local Link services operating from both Cork and Limerick.

There are no proper bus shelters in the town and the councillors said elderly bus users are often left standing in the rain. 

Ms Browne also pointed out to council officials that the St Joseph’s Foundation in the town caters for a huge number of people with special needs, who sometimes use the bus service with their carers.

“My own mother was recently waiting in the cold for around 45 minutes for bus that didn’t turn up," Ms Browne said.

"In rural areas there are some lovely bus shelters and people can’t understand why there are none in a big town like Charleville which is on the main road between Cork and Limerick,” she added.

Chairman of the local municipal district council Gearoid Murphy said such a situation is totally unacceptable, with bus commuters often seeking shelter from the elements in the doorways of businesses.