Toilet facilities at popular Mayo beach to be upgraded

The toilet facilities at one of West Mayo's most popular beaches are to be upgraded.

Members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District were told at their meeting last week that Mayo Co Council intends to decommission the existing wastewater treatment system serving the public toilet facilities at Bertra Beach near Westport to allow for a replacement holding tank.

Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn welcomed the news and said he would like to see similar works carried out at other Blue Flag beaches in Mayo.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, this [issue] contributed to Bertra losing its Blue Flag for a number of years. My only concern is we should be taking it much further. Any Blue Flag beach requires adequate standards and what is there today is not up to standard.” 

Cllr John O’Malley supported the new wastewater tank and also called for a wheelchair-friendly toilet.

Cllr Chris Maxwell said the council must also look at "rock armour" for the tarred road to Bertra Beach, noting that “the tide is eating it away". 

Cllr Brendan Mulroy queried why it was up to the council rather than Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) to deal with wastewater at Bertra.

 “We are getting caught with the cost of this because it is problematic. I think Irish Water should be paying for this because they are either in charge of water services or they are not.” 

Cllr Gerry Coyle said people were also waiting for a permanent toilet at the tidal swimming pool in Belmullet.

“We got money for it so what is happening?” 

The head of the municipal district Seamus O'Mongáin said the council is trying to secure funding for a wheelchair-accessible toilet at Bertra Beach. 

"We will also look into rock armour and what remedial work might be required there on the road. The reason the wastewater is our remit is because they are our toilets and Irish Water don’t have a network there, so it’s like a private dwelling with a septic tank.”

Regarding public toilets at the tidal pool in Belmullet, Mr O'Mongáin said: “We will ask our colleagues in tourism on this who are developing further works there.” 

Director of Services Joanne Grehan also confirmed it is hoped to have the new toilets at Keel Beach in Achill open for St Patrick’s Weekend.

Cllr Peter Flynn also requested an update at a future meeting on the outdoor facilities at Carramore Beach, near Louisburgh.

“It is over a year now since permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála on this and still we are no further on. I can’t understand how it takes 12 months to issue a set of contracts. With the best will in the world, it won’t be ready at the very earliest now until 2026. Please let us know if it is going to tender and the schedule of works.”