Killyleagh’s two-year wait for replacement of public loos too late

SIR, — I can sympathise with the call for public toilets in Newcastle to be open for longer now summer is upon us.

Visitors and holiday makers will soon be arriving in the resort and it goes without saying that public toilets are a much needed facility in any town, with or without tourists.

Down Council hopes the number of tourists to the district will increase year-upon-year and so do we all. Public toilets need to be open to the public a little later that 6pm, no matter where they are located in my opinion.

Despite the fact that Killyleagh draws tourists to the town every year with its picturesque castle and harbour, it is still without any such public facility.

An act of wanton vandalism two years ago deprived Killyleagh of this much-needed facility and it would appear Down Council has conveniently forgotten to replace them. 

I don’t often criticise the council, but in this particular instance, I feel the local authority is, without a shadow of doubt, letting Killyleagh down badly by not replacing these toilets. This is one such facility Down Council has a duty to the ratepayer to restore.

We are all aware of the financial restraints placed upon all local councils in the current economic climate. However, the public toilets in Killyleagh were destroyed before the recession started to impact and should have been replaced as quickly as possible.

Two years is too long to wait, so how about Down Council please doing the right thing. Please replace these much-needed toilets without further delay.

Yours etc.,

MR. JOHN HUDDLESTON,

Killyleagh UUP 

Branch chairman.