COUNCIL officers have recommended pulling the plug on proposals to extend the late-night opening of the public toilets in Enniskillen town centre.

They believe that an extension of the trialled late-night opening of the Eden Street public conveniences cannot be justified, on the basis of “cost, health and safety and the number of cases of vandalism over such a short period of time”.

In a report presented to the February meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s environmental services committee, officials estimated that the long-term extended opening of the facilities at Eden Street in Enniskillen, and similar public conveniences at Kevlin Avenue in Omagh, would incur an additional estimated running cost of £30,500.

The report further stated that, if the late-night opening was to be continued, around £20,000 would need to be spent to upgrade the Eden Street toilets.

The trialled extended opening of the public toilets in Eden Street began late last year, following a request by council members who were keen to support the local ‘night time economy’.

The facility at Eden Street was chosen due to its central location and proximity to local bars and restaurants.

Starting on October 15, the toilets were opened for 24 hours at weekends only. Although this was for four weeks initially, the trial period was subsequently extended.

However, on the weekend of November 19 and 20, the male toilets at Eden Street were vandalised.

The damage included a broken mirror, smashed cistern lid, broken arm rail and flooding due to a blocked sink and toilet.

It cost around £1,000 to repair the facility, which later re-opened to the public at the regular hours of 8am to 8pm.

As well as the vandalism, the Town Orderly reported an increase in the amount of cleaning in the morning following late-night openings.

Over the Christmas period, the opening hours at the Eden Street toilets were extended until 3am, while the Kevlin Avenue conveniences stayed open to 2.30am.

In the report presented to the committee, a number of issues were identified by officials in considering the long-term extended opening of the facilities at Eden Street and Kevlin Avenue – the need for CCTV at both premises, anti-vandal modifications to the toilets in Enniskillen and the employment of attendants.

The report stated that CCTV would be necessary for the “safe operation” of both facilities.

It was estimated that it would cost £1,400 to provide CCTV at the two sites, with an annual maintenance cost of £500 per year.

In terms of staffing arrangements, it was stated that two attendants would be required to be available to inspect each facility every 30 minutes and to lock up at 3am.

“Officers believe that it will be difficult employing and retaining staff on a long-term basis to carry out this shift work due to the anti-social hours and working weekends and bank holiday periods on a regular basis.

“In conclusion, it is the recommendation of officers that the long-term extension of this trial late-night opening cannot be justified on the basis of cost, health and safety and the number of cases of vandalism over such a short period,” the report stated.