‘Disgusting’ state of public toilets at Rossmore Park

Problems at Hollywood also highlighted

The condition of public toilet facilities at the very popular Rossmore Forest Park amenity on the outskirts of Monaghan Town were branded “disgusting” at Monday’s meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District.

“The toilets in Rossmore Park are vile with a capital V-I-L-E,” complained Cllr Niamh McCooey (SF), outlining complaints she has received from visitors to the amenity and her own observations.

Similar complaints about toilet facilities at another much frequented north Monaghan amenity, Hollywood Park, were also highlighted by Cllr Bronagh McAree (SF).

MD Co-ordinator Martin Taylor pointed out that the local authority has no role in maintaining the Rossmore toilets, which are the responsibility of Coillte. He undertook to raise the matter in a forthcoming meeting with the forestry authority and said he will speak to the local development committee about the Hollywood issue.

Cllr McCooey said there is no hand sanitiser, soap or toilet roll in the two-unit “eco-toilet” block at Rossmore, a latch on one of the doors is broken and it is impossible to see when inside the toilets. The main toilet block is “disgusting” – rubbish in a bin has built halfway up the wall and there are signs of rodent activity.

“Rossmore is often ranked the most visited of Coillte’s public parks in Ireland,” she stated, “and that hasn’t come about by accident but through continuous development by the local authority and Government Department funding and we are looking forward to the new zipline adventure feature, which will only increase visitor numbers.”

Cllr McCooey asked the MD to request Coillte to ensure the toilets are properly maintained, particularly in periods of good weather and increased summer activity. She said the state of the toilets risk putting off older people and parents with children from visiting the amenity.

Cllr McAree said she has received a number of complaints about dog fouling and the poor condition of the toilets at Hollywood Park, with one lady branding the condition of the toilets “a disgrace”. She asked what is being done with the MD funding provided for Hollywood.

Cllr Seamus Treanor (Ind) said he recently contacted the MD about the condition of the Rossmore toilets and asked who inspected them. He thought that if a business in the hospitality sector has toilets in this condition they will find themselves in serious trouble.

“I can’t believe this is still happening,” he declared. “We are a public body and we can’t keep our most important amenity clean.”

Cllr Treanor agreed that the toilets at Hollywood aren’t being looked after.

Cllr Seán Conlon (SF) said when he first saw the Rossmore eco-toilets he knew they were going to have a disastrous outcome, citing what he regards as their flawed design and construction.

“We must have a role in the oversight of such basic facilities as toilets and making sure hygiene and sanitation issues are addressed,” he stated. “We can’t just fob it off on Coillte.”

The Co-ordinator said the Rossmore toilets are owned, operated and maintained by Coillte and the MD has no involvement at all in this. The MD has regular meetings with Coillte and passes on any complaints and information they receive and he will bring the condition of the toilets up at the next meeting, as he has done in the past.

Mr Taylor said he will also organise a meeting with the local committee in relation to Hollywood Park and see what can be improved at the location.