Let's solve the Public Toilet crisis.

A1Cork

Part of the problem is drainage, a solution to that could be a mobile drainage vehicle or just dig up the City again and add drainage. I can't see how difficult that would be, sure aren't they always doing some work in the City, so it wouldn't be any new hindrance and it always seems like it's done when they have a project finished, example new Grand Parade layout now robot tress new Patrick Street lay out now a failed pedestrian zone. New Parnell Place layout, some what of a success.

Feel free to add your Public Toilet solutions here. How much would you pay.

Maybe a Leap card solution with a minimum top up, top up by €10 get four uses and maybe a point system for next top up like a loyalty card. Just my views.

whisky_galore

I would have to be affordable (.50c or €1. €2 absolute Max), attended by an actual person to stop messing, not access by technology as these things have a knack of breaking down.

I think they are better pay toilets as people have (slightly) more respect for something that isn't 100% free.

Also time to grow up and provide injection centres so toilets won't be used as injection sites.

A1Cork

They say you get what you pay for, so I would be in favour of a higher price and a loyality system, as for injection centres that's a whole different area, that can be commented on and discussed, but now for now it's about public toilets.

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117746857#Comment_117746857

A loyalty system for a jacks is a bit much I think. It's turning bodily motions into a commodity.

Overall though the public toilet situation certainly needs to be looked at.

A1Cork

I was in West Cork when the pubs were allowed to open no toilets any where, I asked the nearest and only pub could I use the Jax. They said it's for customers only. So I had to buy a glass of the cheapest drink which was a shandy and that cost me €4 When I mention the loyality system I mean you should get a system in place that rewards when using what ever system is there. One thing is for sure if they are free they might as well go on the scrap heap.

natural_immunity

Maybe they should install toilets inside the new "robo-trees", perhaps for another 350.000€ these monuments to science could be fitted with a second filtration system, a sort of fecal colander to extract the H2O (water for the chemically illiterate) from the passers-by's 'depositions' and expel it into the atmosphere, getting some much needed moisture back into the air. Tbh I do find that the air at Grand Parade tends to dry up my nasal membranes more than any other area in Cork city.

Having to register to use a toilet (like a leap card mentioned above) is a bit silly.

If you must charge, then it should be a pittance (max 50c - these are supposed to be a fairly basic service supplied by the council, not there to be profited from). Make sure they accept card payments. Stick advertising space on them to cover the cost of regular maintenance.

Even at 50c, expect them to smell of piss after a saturday night when 1 person pays and leaves the door slightly ajar, so everyone can then use it for free anyway, or the people that piss up against it when it's closed and they don't want to pay).

notAMember

First of all, it’s not a crisis.

I know people get a bit emotes about peeing , but come on.

Whats wrong with using an existing establishment? Library, cafe , pub, gallery, opera house etc. Even some big shops (Debenhams? ) have loos. I know well the short notice of a toddler needing to go , but I have never been caught short in town.

What are you doing for hours in the city not going to anything at all? just walking the streets? It’s a commercial center.

if it’s after pub closing time, then that’s another matter, I think the weird British hangover of pub closing times is archaic and needs to go.

and the “shandy “ ? You can get a cup of tea in a pub, usually 2 euro, or a glass of tap water, or cordial.

namloc1980

Debenhams has been closed for over a year in town at this stage?!

Cafes and pubs are for customer use only so it's again commercialising toilet use. BTs and Merchants quay are one of the few you can use just walking in off the street but are private operations ultimately.

Public facilities are non existent. Toilets are a pretty basic human requirement and non provision of basic public facilities shouldn't be acceptable.

A1Cork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117750106#Comment_117750106

Good point but we still have TV license dog license etc.

A1Cork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117751316#Comment_117751316

Enjoyed your post yet we are all looking for solutions.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117754148#Comment_117754148

What?

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117751316#Comment_117751316

There’s also a pandemic, no shops have been open. Rumour has it it will reopen as House of Fraser anyway, closure is temporary.

I gave a list of what, 10 free ways to use a loo in the city.

The city is a commercial center. You either work there (have access to toilet), live there (have access to toilet) , or have some business there, using shops cafes library etc (have access to toilet)

What else are you doing in town? Lying on the street staring at the sky? Go home.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117750106#Comment_117750106

Ever hear of a thing called tourism? People coming into town to use an air coach at all hours say?

Business owners dont really appreciate people coming in using their jacks when they don't want a meal or a drink.

Not everyone has a well functioning digestion system or bladder either that they can keep it in and go all the way back to the place they're staying. Bit of a "I'm alright Jack" off of you, I don't really need it so screw everyone else.

notAMember

Yes, good example. tourists use galleries (toilet), visit museums (toilet) , go to the cafes (toilet), and have lunch (toilet).

Incontinance I am familiar with, people are able to plan and use medical aids.

I don’t know, is it lack of confidence? London has very few public toilets either. I’ve never seen one. Are people not confident enough to walk into a library , shop or gallery?

A snack like a flapjack or piece of fruit in a cafe will cost you 1 euro, that’s hardly crazy money to become a customer and use the loo.

Flinty997

Definitely is a crisis.

It's another public facility that's been de facto forced on to private sector.

The lockdown made this clearly apparent. With private sector shutdown there were no toilets anywhere. Not in parks, beaches, nowhere.

Problem all over Ireland and UK.

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117756243#Comment_117756243

If you need to resort to aggression to try to get a point across, it's pretty sad for you. Fraser's aren't going into Debenhams in town that I have seen so that "temporary" closure is now going on 18 months. You have an interesting definition of temporary. Perhaps you're a bit confused with Mahon Point.

I see you've also come out with the classic: "you have no business in town unless you have "business" there". Who are you to say why people should or should not be in the city? Fierce smack of "I'm alright Jack so screw everyone else" off your posts.

As someone who has IBD I can tell you the utter lack of public toilets is a major issue, not just in Cork, but all over the country.

Seanergy

It's always been a penny pinching affair.

Most places once you ask or acknowledge you need to visit the shrine won't turn you away. From my experience establishments don't like people darting to the back of house whilst averting eye contact, for obvious reasons.

A stop gap solution before you start talking about digging up the city center or producing mobile toilets would be to get one/some establishment/s to take part in few varying trial solutions. Talk to establishements, ask questions and listen, get the feelers out. Something has to be given to the establishements in return.

Maybe donations from toilet goers could be pooled into a wage for a mobile cleaner, eventually may even cover toillet roll expenditure or fresh flowers/air filters.

Point being think outside the box with what already exists and start small.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117756636#Comment_117756636

There wasn’t a whisper of aggression there.

I think it might be a complete fear of interaction with other humans here though based on your terror response to my post, rather than a lack of loos. A 10 second conversation at worst ( where’s the toilet please) and you are in one. People aren’t so scary. Is that what’s driving a desire for robo-toilets?

Pandemic driven social anxiety was expected for some, we’ve been isolated for ages.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117756602#Comment_117756602

Libraries, Museums , public transportation and Galleries are all public facilities. All with toilets.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117758818#Comment_117758818

These things aren't everywhere and they aren't all open. Some are ticket only admittance.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117758777#Comment_117758777

I like the way you quoted the post but didn't read it.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117760174#Comment_117760174

They are in the city center, which is where we are talking about. They are all open, and all of them without payment.

You’ll have to give a bit more detail there on the second comment for me to respond, otherwise it’s just being snotty and insulting for the sake of it.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117756505#Comment_117756505

Oh wow a grand total of ONE gallery and two museums, the museums being a fair old walk from the city centre, I wouldn't want to be badly stuck. Otherwise I've to buy food I dont want.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117760303#Comment_117760303

There are loads of museums and galleries , I assume you're being facetious so I won't list them for you.

Is there really that much of a difference between buying a 1 euro bar of chocolate and paying 3 euro for a robo-toilet?

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117760245#Comment_117760245

My comment that you quoted said "...not in parks, beaches...."

The other poster said they had IBD from that you infer "Pandemic driven social anxiety"

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117758777#Comment_117758777

Thanks for confirming you don't bother reading posts you are replying to. "Panic driven social anxiety" 😂🤣 What a load of utter bollocks you are posting.

Flinty997

There used to be lot more public toliets around, but they didn't maintain them well, or police them, so they got rid of them. I'm guessing the early 90s.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117760891#Comment_117760891

Ok, I know boards has changed the quoting, so it's easy to lose track of the topic at hand, but what beaches are in the city center? That's the thread we are on.

Even mentioning beaches (still none in the city tho), I know of beaches with toilets. Warren Strand, Garrestown etc.

And maybe again it's the new weird format, but I asked why the poster can't ask to use a toilet. I have family and friends with IBD, they are well able to ask to use one when they need. When I was in the city with toddlers being potty trained, it never took me long So I don't get why IBD would stop anyone from speaking. Unless, it's social anxiety overlaid on top, some kind of issue with strangers, which is a real thing. Either pre-existing, or pandemic created.

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117760907#Comment_117760907

What do you think is a load of bollocks exactly?

That social anxiety doesn't exist?

That the pandemic doesn't exist?

Glad you think those are hilarious.

Flinty997

The problem isn't limited to the city center. It's a national problem.

Dismissing it as phobia when there are more obvious and immediate issues. Is disingenuous..

the beer revolu

Who would have thought that a discussion about public toilets would bring out such unpleasantness?

chalkitdown1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117765754#Comment_117765754

Is this your first time on boards?

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117771338#Comment_117771338

Ah, the Cork forum is mostly pretty friendly. Also, the topic didn't strike me as such a divisive one.

But there's always one langer!

Hangdogroad

If you open an unregulated public toilet in this City the reality is it'll be taken over in no time by junkies as with the now closed ones on Grand Parade.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117783553#Comment_117783553

Hence the discussion on how to solve the problem. I think most people get that.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117774872#Comment_117774872

I was expecting the Niall Toibin joke .

AndrewJRenko

Maybe the Council should pay selected local businesses to make their toilets available to all, especially the ones with extended opening hours?

It should be a lot more cost effective than providing new facilities from scratch.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117783972#Comment_117783972

I recall this very idea being bandied about before. It makes sense, really.

A1Cork

It's been a week and so far all I got was faults and one positive comment here. No solutions only cribbing and no solutions. The pay for a snack comment was productive. Tourism was constructive, takes me back to the time I was on holidays and had to bay 3 euros in North Africa to use a hole in the ground and a bucket.

We are the high tech capital of Ireland Europe I'm just wondering why I have to pass lanes ways and see people urinating etc.

Why can't I ask someone where is there a Jax to use. I went to the City the other day and paid 5.20 because I had to use a car park and there was no Jax. So I had to make an executive decision hold on hope traffic is good or use a public toilet. Reason I needed the Jax was because I had a large Coffee and was heading back out of the city that alone cost me almost 10 euros for an hour.

A1Cork

I also remember there was a service called a photo booth I think they are gone now also, or were not profitable anymore to establishments.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117786850#Comment_117786850

What?

You are pissed of at boards users for not coming up with and agreeing the solution to this problem?

No one here owes you even a reply. It's a discussion forum, not an answer service for you.

Also, did your trip to town cost you €5.20 or nearly €10? It can't be both.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117786883#Comment_117786883

They're still around.

notAMember

You know, there is a personality type, can’t recall what it’s named, where you just get to heck on with your life , whatever environment you’re in. Not expecting to be minded by nanny states or wanting other people to solve my problems. Rugged individualism? Something like that. Anyway. That’s me I’ve been told. I’ve never paid for a toilet in Africa either (they saw you coming eh!!!), just used in the hole in the ground like everyone else.

There are more people walking around with coffee cups these days. I generally don’t do that. I don’t feel I need sips of comfort throughout my day (and am using my hands for other stuff if I’m in town, like carrying things, or putting my mask on and off for the zillionth time). Maybe that tendency to drink non stop , while not being where the drinks are sold is contributing to this head scratcher.

A1, where did you buy your enormous coffee? Did that place have a toilet? If that habit is causing you bladder stress, think about changing it, or plan your toilet break beforehand.

We all know in advance, there will be a full bladder about 20 minutes after downing half a litre of liquid.

And one more… where on earth did you park for 5:20? Most of the public car parks are free for the first 2 hours.

fulanoquetal

Require all public buildings to have facilities open to the public, require all multistory carparks to have facilities, require all shopping centres to have facilities, require all retail establishments over a certain floor area to have facilities accessible to the public.

Not having basic toilet facilities available because junkies will abuse them is the tail wagging the dog.

Drainage problems ?...use a tank.

A1Cork

Not pissed of at board users at all, did I mention I was pissed off, I did not, so where you are conjuring that up from I have no idea.

As for the Coffee I also didn't say it was a large Coffee. I did empty my bladder at the Coffee shop toilet. But I think that was from the daily intake of water I had that morning.

The Car park was Merchants Quay the price was 5.20 there was no free 2 hrs there was a que for the toilet inside the shopping centre so I went to the bus station and paid 2 euros.

If you can be helpful to this discussion can you tell me when and where the car parks are free for two hours and could you be so kind to tell me where the toilets are.

Yes I am saying we have the largest amount of It businesses per population in Europe and more on the way.

As for the other users comment on getting caught for using the toilet in North Africa Tunisia I would agree and yes it was a hole in a floor standard in North Africa and the money that was paid was for the key to this facility and the use of the water.

Why is it so difficult in 21st century Ireland Cork to have public toilets yet we can build hotels and office blocks. And after 40 years relief roads and fly overs. They even built houses back in the 60s and 70s when it was much more difficult to get funding and lots of money for projects, one a week was being built I believe.

Yet in today's world where there is Billions available we can't even manage to get public toilets in the city or water at a beach in Youghal to was sand of your feet.

Before you start don't blame the people with addictions.

I'm in favour of public toilets in an ever expanding city with an ever expanding population of people from all walks of life that come here to work from abroad and tourist to tour and for the citizens of Cork and beyond to be able to locate and use toilet facilities. I'm in favour of a tap and pay system and maybe if one ever gets built a system for people with disabilities to use them like the free travel scheme.

I don't have a degree so I would be able to help build these facilities for this ever expanding City for all who wish and need to avail.

A1Cork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117787522#Comment_117787522

A very good idea. This to could lead to more jobs. Very good idea.

Pen Rua

Some might recall the fancy public toilets opened in Clifden earlier in the summer - €3.50 per use, and €15-€20 for the shower. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/plan-for-five-star-bathroom-block-in-central-dublin-1.4653437

The same guy is opening one in Dublin, but the article includes this quote: In addition to Duke Street, Mr Nagle plans to open a network of wheelchair accessible bathrooms in more than 25 towns and four cities across Ireland, all of which will come with baby-changing facilities, showers and vanity areas.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/travel/ireland/plan-for-five-star-bathroom-block-in-central-dublin-1.4653437

The Irish Times article gives further details; €3.50 per use; €5.00 for a day pass; €20 for a week pass or €120 for an annual subscription [ex showers].

The facilities are staffed when open, and each area is cleaned between persons.

notAMember

The free parking for 2 hours was listed here. Looks like the council ended that scheme in August.

https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/services/parking-services/where-to-park/multi-storey-car-parks.html

I was wondering if you were going to mention coffee horse-boxes or pop-ups. Because I genuinely think those must be painful for bricks-and-mortar establishments to bear.

For the existing places serving drinks, they are required to provide toilets for customers through regulation, employ the people to keep them maintained and clean, and supply with toilet paper / soap , lighting etc, along with being inspected for cleanliness, keeping food and drinks at the correct temperatures, waste management. They currently carry that burden for the public, plus paying the rates to the council on top for the pleasure.

The casual traders do none of that. If there is additional demand being created by cas

The suggestions above are to ensure that other service providers (car-parks? / dedicated buildings for toilets) also start maintaining and staffing toilet complexes.