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Bandon wheelchair loo is under lock and key

August 31st, 2017 10:05 PM

By Kieran O'Mahony

Locked loo: key is available but must be ‘applied for'.

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The wheelchair accessible toilet at Bridge Place in Bandon is permanently locked unless the person using it has a universal key. 

THE wheelchair accessible toilet at Bridge Place in Bandon is permanently locked unless the person using it has a universal key. 

Senior executive engineer with Cork County Council, Charlie McCarthy, told councillors at a recent meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District that a master key is available for all wheelchair accessible toilets and that users can apply for such a key from the Irish Wheelchair Association.

At a previous meeting in June, councillors had raised the issue of the wheelchair toilet being permanently locked and had also suggested that it should be moved to a better location. They were told that the matter would be investigated.

Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) questioned if there was a key on stand-by for tourists and she also described it as ‘unsightly.’

Cllr James O’Donovan (FG) suggested that it should be moved from its current location and that as councillors, they should make a call on it. However, Council official Mac Dara O’hIcí said any disposal of it will have to come to all members.

‘It’s in a good location and if we remove it will we get a better location?’ he asked.

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