Lack of services turning side of M18 into ‘a public toilet’

THE lack of motorway service stations is forcing people to turn the side of Clare’s stretch of the M18 into a public toilet, a local authority member has asserted. 

Offering to produce video evidence of the practice of public urination along the M18 and N18, Councillor PJ Ryan appealed to the Council to ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Transport Minister to install public services on the Clare stretch of the motorway. “It has been brought to may notice that quite a lot of vehicles cars on N18/M18 are using side of motorway when they need to go to the toilet,” he said. “Making a public toilet out the motorway is a disgrace

It is mostly on the south-bound side that there is the problem. The north-bound stretch has services at Birdhill. Clare County Council needs to do something.”

Seconding the motion, Councillor Pat McMahon agreed that the Tipperary stretch of the motorway has better services. “In Tipperary, there are two stops within ten or twelve miles of each other and fair play to them,’ he said. “On the Galway road, there is one around Loughrea. As part of the negotiations to put in a service station in Newmarket-on-Fergus, there was a lot of work done. This needs to be revived and re-looked at.”

Councillor Donna McGettigan said the motion was a very good one. “A lot of those using the side of the road are male,” she noted. “Us women aren’t able to do that. We have to hold on and that can cause health issues. Action is needed on this motion.”

Councillor Ann Norton also voiced her support. “When you see signs after the Toll saying that it’s a working area and not a toilet, that’s just disgraceful,” she said. “There should be better facilities. The TII need to look at what’s going on in other part of the world and take heed of what is available. People need facilities. Tiredness kills people as well. Even if it’s only an area with toilets, showers and a place to take a break in a safe manner, these facilities should be available. Nobody appreciates this situation. At the end of the day, sometimes it’s the residents who have to clean up the roadsides.”

Councillor PJ Ryan also highlighted the issue of lorries having to park in and around housing estates, because of the lack of motorway service areas. “We were told a station would be built at Newmarket-on-Fergus, but nothing happened. Something needs to be done. “I can provide film showing what’s happening. Due to GDPR, I can’t identify people, but the film is available showing the issues I’m talking about.”

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Tony O’Brien assured Councillor Ryan that the authority would be writing to the TII to highlight the issue.