New casual trading bye-laws adopted in Mayo town
Lough Lannagh car park has been designated for casual trading.
Castlebar councillors clashed over the provision of toilets as a vote was needed to approve new casual trading bye-laws for the town.
Under the bye-laws, Hopkins' Road Car Park, Market Square Plaza, Castle Lane, and Lough Lannagh Car Park have been designated as casual trading locations.
Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he could not support the bye-laws without the provision of public toilets.
Head of Castlebar Municipal District David Mellett said the provision of public toilets is not feasible at all locations and the council were not proposing to include it in the bye-laws. However, he said where possible toilets will be provided.
“I won’t support it without the toilets. The amount of people who have come to me and told me there are no toilets around,” said Cllr Kilcoyne. “It’s not good enough that elderly people who go to these things and are the lifeblood cannot go to the bathroom,” he added.
Cllr Kilcoyne said toilet facilities at the biggest trading area at Market Square were promised 20 years ago and claimed arrangements could be made to provide mobile facilities.
Cllr Kilcoyne was backed by Cllr Blackie Gavin but the other councillors felt new bye-laws were too pressing to delay any further.
“I would like to proceed. I would like to see Lough Lannagh opened up and the coffee dock at Lough Lannagh as soon as possible,” said Cllr Harry Barrett.
Cllr Donna Sheridan said there are already toilet facilities at or close by to the designated trading areas. She also feared that the cost would be prohibitive.
“While it’s not ideal it’s definitely moving forward. We can’t be waiting on perfection. Perfection is the enemy of the good. This is a good opportunity. We all wanted a coffee dock down at Lough Lannagh for a long time. There is toilets there."
Cllr Sheridan was supported by fellow Fine Gael Cllr Ger Deere.
“I propose that we adopt the bye-laws. In an ideal world we want toilets but we can’t have them every place. We have to move on. I have never seen anything like the length of time it has taken to get a coffee dock at Lough Lannagh."
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
