Public Toilet plans beside English Market

Pauliedragon

As historical as the market is and I think it's a great icon of Cork city a public toilet would improve the smell of the place.

titan18

titan18 wrote: »

UCC gets attention cos of the Quad tbf and the whole Hogwarts looking thing.

It's pretty, but it's obviously no Trinity.

Pandiculation

We should be looking at the city centre primarily as a place we live in, shop in, socialise in and as a big shared cultural space.

It’s not all about tourism. It’s a living city and somewhere that has to thrive.

We’re absolutely going to need toilets in the city centre with outdoor dining being the norm for potential the rest of this year.

When COVID is under control, I suspect we will gradually go back to normal and that toilet bloc can probably be downscaled again.

In the long term though we do need to have a proper city centre facility of some sort for toilets, baby change and so on. We can’t just keep closing stuff because of fear of junkies using them. We need to supervise and prevent problems.

The one thing that’s concerning me in Cork is the Mary Elmes Bridge. It’s a nice idea but the surfaces seem to all prone to graffiti and damage. I think they could have made much better choices of surface finishes.

corks finest

sporina wrote: »

oh oh traders are not happy..

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40284917.html

Shag them, toilets badly needed with security for the junkies ( Bro died of an OD in McDonald’s daunt sq toilet )
So I don’t write this as a cast off remark, large city’ needs toilets

Mav11

Deleted User wrote: »

It's pretty, but it's obviously no Trinity.

It’s more trinity than quad. It has only 3 sides:D

corks finest

Pandiculation wrote: »

We should be looking at the city centre primarily as a place we live in, shop in, socialise in and as a big shared cultural space.

It’s not all about tourism. It’s a living city and somewhere that has to thrive.

We’re absolutely going to need toilets in the city centre with outdoor dining being the norm for potential the rest of this year.

When COVID is under control, I suspect we will gradually go back to normal and that toilet bloc can probably be downscaled again.

In the long term though we do need to have a proper city centre facility of some sort for toilets, baby change and so on. We can’t just keep closing stuff because of fear of junkies using them. We need to supervise and prevent problems.

The one thing that’s concerning me in Cork is the Mary Elmes Bridge. It’s a nice idea but the surfaces seem to all prone to graffiti and damage. I think they could have made much better choices of surface finishes.

Well said

sporina

Pandiculation wrote: »

We should be looking at the city centre primarily as a place we live in, shop in, socialise in and as a big shared cultural space.

It’s not all about tourism. It’s a living city and somewhere that has to thrive.

We’re absolutely going to need toilets in the city centre with outdoor dining being the norm for potential the rest of this year.

When COVID is under control, I suspect we will gradually go back to normal and that toilet bloc can probably be downscaled again.

In the long term though we do need to have a proper city centre facility of some sort for toilets, baby change and so on. We can’t just keep closing stuff because of fear of junkies using them. We need to supervise and prevent problems.

The one thing that’s concerning me in Cork is the Mary Elmes Bridge. It’s a nice idea but the surfaces seem to all prone to graffiti and damage. I think they could have made much better choices of surface finishes.

who said it is about tourism?

Pandiculation

sporina wrote: »

who said it is about tourism?

If you read the thread there was discussion about relevance of English Market, tourism etc.

Anyway, I’ve clearly annoyed you for some reason. Not sure why I bothered posting.

PreCocious

titan18 wrote: »

UCC gets attention cos of the Quad tbf and the whole Hogwarts looking thing.

Ah here. If people want Hogwarts they'll find it in Oxford or Cambridge or wherever Terfy Rowling drew her inspiration from. UCC is a fairly bland campus.

who_me

Pandiculation wrote: »

The one thing that’s concerning me in Cork is the Mary Elmes Bridge. It’s a nice idea but the surfaces seem to all prone to graffiti and damage. I think they could have made much better choices of surface finishes.

Yeah, it was fairly destroyed with graffiti and the central glass divider was smashed within a few months. The graffiti was painted over, and the glass replaced; hope it lasts! It still gets its share of arguments/fights; and is almost permanently covered in trash/cans/fast-foot containers etc.

notAMember

Really? That’s a shame. I suppose it’s clear here from responses that plenty of Cork people don’t care about their own city. Makes sense they would wreck it.

corks finest

PreCocious wrote: »

Ah here. If people want Hogwarts they'll find it in Oxford or Cambridge or wherever Terfy Rowling drew her inspiration from. UCC is a fairly bland campus.

Ah TBF looks lovely from the western rd side

the beer revolu

Perhaps if people weren't so averse to injection centres, public toilets wouldn't be used for drug taking so much.

I live in the Shandon area. There is a bit of a problem with people shooting up in the lane ways.
Most of the local residents are vehemently against an injection centre in the area claiming it would attract drug users!
Hello? There are already people shooting up on your streets!

sprucemoose

Pandiculation wrote: »

In the long term though we do need to have a proper city centre facility of some sort for toilets, baby change and so on. We can’t just keep closing stuff because of fear of junkies using them. We need to supervise and prevent problems

you are absolutely correct, however the location is the problem here rather than the function. Refurbing and upgrading the existing facilities across the street would be a much better start, then place similar facilities in another few spots around the city centre

the beer revolu

the beer revolu wrote: »

Perhaps if people weren't so averse to injection centres, public toilets wouldn't be used for drug taking so much.

I live in the Shandon area. There is a bit of a problem with people shooting up in the lane ways.
Most of the local residents are vehemently against an injection centre in the area claiming it would attract drug users!
Hello? There are already people shooting up on your streets!

I remember when Cork used to look down their noses at Dublin due to its heroin problem. It's shocking how much things have changed.

sporina

Pandiculation wrote: »

If you read the thread there was discussion about relevance of English Market, tourism etc.

Anyway, I’ve clearly annoyed you for some reason. Not sure why I bothered posting.

The reason why the English Market is being discussed with regards to tourism is cos someone asked why it attracts so many tourists..

Gee no you didn't annoy me at all - I was genuinely puzzled.. post away..

the beer revolu wrote: »

Perhaps if people weren't so averse to injection centres, public toilets wouldn't be used for drug taking so much.

I live in the Shandon area. There is a bit of a problem with people shooting up in the lane ways.
Most of the local residents are vehemently against an injection centre in the area claiming it would attract drug users!
Hello? There are already people shooting up on your streets!

While I don't think that this is why there is resistance to the plan being discussed here, you are so right in terms of dealing with the problem of drug taking in public places etc.. I rem it being discussed on the radio a few years ago.. but dunno what became of it.. injection centres should definitely be set up.

the beer revolu

sporina wrote: »

While I don't think that this is why there is resistance to the plan being discussed here, you are so right in terms of dealing with the problem of drug taking in public places etc.. I rem it being discussed on the radio a few years ago.. but dunno what became of it.. injection centres should definitely be set up.

Yeah, it's just that whenever public toilets are mentioned, drug use is brought up as a reason there can't be public toilets.

beer enigma

the beer revolu wrote: »

Yeah, it's just that whenever public toilets are mentioned, drug use is brought up as a reason there can't be public toilets.

For me this has nothing to do with drug use, this is purely siting it between the two market entrances that I have an issue with for the reason in my post a few pages ago.

Does however seem strange that they wouldn't just reopen the other 'new' one that's already in place on Grand Parade. That was indeed closed due to antisocial behaviour, so this seems like kicking the can down the road and unnecesary expenditure.

partyguinness

It might actually improve the smell of the place.

Any time I saw the inside of that public toilet on Grand Parade the inside was absolutely trashed, covered in ****e and rubbish. This was the pre heroin days.

I think the Irish are probably amongst the most selfish and anti social people in the Western World.

That is why we don't have public toilets and other countries do.

the beer revolu

beer enigma wrote: »

For me this has nothing to do with drug use, this is purely siting it between the two market entrances that I have an issue with for the reason in my post a few pages ago.

Does however seem strange that they wouldn't just reopen the other 'new' one that's already in place on Grand Parade. That was indeed closed due to antisocial behaviour, so this seems like kicking the can down the road and unnecesary expenditure.

Possibly because toilets inside a building with another propose would be supervised, whereas it's difficult to supervise the auto ones.

I'm neither for or against these toilets but I don't buy the "hygiene" argument, at all. I think people are forgetting that the proposed toilets are just a part of the development of this site. (I'm not claiming that you made this argument)

partyguinness

Deleted User wrote: »

Any time I saw the inside of that public toilet on Grand Parade the inside was absolutely trashed, covered in ****e and rubbish. This was the pre heroin days.

I think the Irish are probably amongst the most selfish and anti social people in the Western World.

That is why we don't have public toilets and other countries do.

I am in England and I cannot think of any public toilets near me- I can think of plenty of closed toilet blocks though.

partyguinness

partyguinness wrote: »

I am in England and I cannot think of any public toilets near me- I can think of plenty of closed toilet blocks though.

Yeah I'd rank the English/UK next to us, in that regard.

sporina

the beer revolu wrote: »

Possibly because toilets inside a building with another propose would be supervised, whereas it's difficult to supervise the auto ones.

I'm neither for or against these toilets but I don't buy the "hygiene" argument, at all. I think people are forgetting that the proposed toilets are just a part of the development of this site. (I'm not claiming that you made this argument)

yeah I think thats the thinking - and they are probably right..

When this news 1st broke out it just about public toilets.. (article in 1st post).. no word of anything else.. but it has since transpired..

"the council plans to renovate the ground floor of the former Hilser's building into a city council information and public display centre and to install public toilets and public changing facilities"

I dunno.. I think better use could be made of the space - something to showcase the market.. and from what I can gather sewage would be a big issue...

anyway..

the beer revolu

I'm really not sure what's the best use for that space is but I fear it will end up as a room with
old photographs and information boards and a couple of poems on the wall. Oh, and that pic of the UK Queen and the fish seller.
I genuinely think toilets would be a better use than something like that.

Does anyone have any better ideas?

TheChizler

the beer revolu wrote: »

I'm really not sure what's the best use for that space is but I fear it will end up as a room with
old photographs and information boards and a couple of poems on the wall. Oh, and that pic of the UK Queen and the fish seller.
I genuinely think toilets would be a better use than something like that.

Does anyone have any better ideas?

I'd say you're not far off on that one

corks finest

the beer revolu wrote: »

Perhaps if people weren't so averse to injection centres, public toilets wouldn't be used for drug taking so much.

I live in the Shandon area. There is a bit of a problem with people shooting up in the lane ways.
Most of the local residents are vehemently against an injection centre in the area claiming it would attract drug users!
Hello? There are already people shooting up on your streets!

Couldn’t agree more addicts need somewhere to inject or it’s going to be the streets/ toilets/ public parks etc etc forever, I for one don’t want to see any poor soul injecting and hope my grandkids won’t be exposed either

fulanoquetal

I believe that there needs to be some sort of public toilet facility.

1. Any retail facility (individual or combined) exceeding X Sq M must provide and maintain toilet facilities which are available for public use. Greater area = more toilets
2. A single city centre facility could be manned for security and maintenance. Keep it open 9-9 or something. Charge people for usage like they have done in other countries. Eu 1 should not be too much to ask for a clean safe place to use.
3. Build vandal resistant facilites in such a way that they can be hosed down with a high pressure steam cleaner.

Darc19

fulanoquetal wrote: »

I believe that there needs to be some sort of public toilet facility.

1. Any retail facility (individual or combined) exceeding X Sq M must provide and maintain toilet facilities which are available for public use. Greater area = more toilets
2. A single city centre facility could be manned for security and maintenance. Keep it open 9-9 or something. Charge people for usage like they have done in other countries. Eu 1 should not be too much to ask for a clean safe place to use.
3. Build vandal resistant facilites in such a way that they can be hosed down with a high pressure steam cleaner.

There's a proposal in Dublin whereby public toilets will be outsourced.

The idea is that you can locate a coffee kiosk and toilets with no rent or rates in return for managing the toilets for public use.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/toilet-rollout-plan-for-dublin-city-to-involve-coffee-dock-operators-1.4528534

A further stage will see operators of fixed cafés tendering for the supply of the service -

Igotadose

fulanoquetal wrote: »

I believe that there needs to be some sort of public toilet facility.

1. Any retail facility (individual or combined) exceeding X Sq M must provide and maintain toilet facilities which are available for public use. Greater area = more toilets
2. A single city centre facility could be manned for security and maintenance. Keep it open 9-9 or something. Charge people for usage like they have done in other countries. Eu 1 should not be too much to ask for a clean safe place to use.
3. Build vandal resistant facilites in such a way that they can be hosed down with a high pressure steam cleaner.

I recall a thread a couple years ago when I vented about the English Market having *no* functional toilets the day we visited -and at best, one.

Traveled hours to get there and couldn't find a working toilet. Now, there's a proposal to do *something* about it and the whinging from the multitudes is fierce.


It's well past time something was done, and *anything* would be better than the current dysfunctional situation. Soon as the toilets are there, we might consider visiting the place again. Not like the shops are any great shakes though, better shopping outside the market. But while there's no toilet available, nuh-uh. Even pokey little cities like Tralee have them.