Family visiting Waterford seaside town left ‘very disappointed’ by closed public toilets

A family visiting Tramore in County Waterford recently were left “very disappointed” by the fact that the public toilets were closed, a council meeting has heard.

Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan raised the case of the family during the March meeting of the Metropolitan District.

Cllr Quinlan described the conversation he had with the mother of the family as “very disappointing”.

He told the meeting that the woman and her family “came quite a distance" to come to Tramore for the parade.

They particularly chose Tramore so that their children would be able to avail of the amusement park and the arcades after the parade.

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Cllr Quinlan pointed out the positive economic impact the parade has on the town.

“There were thousands of people there for the parade and many people availed of the businesses in the surrounding area after the parade.

“The reason it was disappointing was because the public toilets on Strand Road were closed.

“We witnessed many people, seeing that the toilets were closed, had to then go into private businesses in the area with the intention to use their toilets.”

He went on to describe a specific incident in which the woman’s young son had an accident while waiting to go to the toilet.

“The reason why the woman approached me was because her son, a small child, was waiting to get into a private business toilet and they were waiting so long that unfortunately the child wet themselves.

“The family then had to leave. They had to go to Tesco to buy new pants and at that stage, they were pretty much done with Tramore and ready to go home.

“I think very much when businesses are opening up earlier in the year so that they can provide the service [...], we should’ve had public toilets open on a day where thousands of people would be congregating in and around that area of Tramore.”

In response to Cllr Quinlan, Senior Engineer Paul Johnston said that the public toilets on Strand Road don’t open until May. However, he said that the toilets on the Prom are “generally open”.

He concluded by saying that the council will look at opening the Strand Road toilets on busy days or bank holidays.