Temporary toilet plan to keep Blue Flag flying in Salthill

Temporary toilets are to be installed on Salthill Promenade by the City Council in a bid to retain the coveted Blue Flag status for the beaches there.

The existing toilet blocks on the Prom and at Blackrock were destroyed in arson attacks last November, costing an estimated €200,000 worth of damage.

The Council has advertised for tenders to refurbish the toilet blocks, which would see them re-open by July 1.

However, inspections by the ‘Blue Flag’ team usually take place around the beginning of the official bathing season (June 1), and public toilets are essential piece of infrastructure for a beach to be eligible.

A spokesperson for the local authority confirmed that temporary portable toilet facilities will be installed at Ladies Beach and Blackrock for the beginning of June.

Meanwhile, signage will be erected on the existing toilet blocks next week declaring them ‘out of order’.

Hundreds of sun-worshippers were left without toilet facilities during the warm spell over the past week, with many complaining about the lack of signage indicating they were not in use.

The Council spokesperson said that the security fencing around the toilet blocks was taken down this week so they could be assessed.

Meanwhile, two Galway beaches – Ballyloughane in Renmore and Clifden – have been classified as having ‘poor’ bathing water quality in the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency. They failed to meet minimum standards along, with five other beaches across the country.

The EPA said the problems were linked to the impact of waste water discharges, and the local authorities and Irish Water have put in place management plans to tackle the main pollution risks.

In Ballyloughane remedial works on combined storm outfalls – to limit their operation – have been undertaken and there are longer term plans for a sewer network upgrade.