Portable toilet dumped in lake three weekends in a row

Council staff have had to fish a portable toilet out of Lough Ennell at Ladestown three times in as many weeks.

The most recent incident occurred on the weekend of February 17-18, when for the third weekend running a portable toilet installed at the popular amenity area was dragged across the car park and deposited in the lake, leaving council staff with the task of removing it.

Cllr Aoife Davitt says that anti-social behaviour at Ladestown and a number of other local lakeside amenity sites is an ongoing problem.

“This was the third time in a couple of weeks. I got a few messages in relation to it and passed them on to the council

“You really have to question the behaviour of these people. This obviously took a lot of effort as the portaloo was dragged across the car park, which has elevations on it.”

Cllr Davitt also noted that dumping a portable toilet in the lake could be a health hazard for humans and animals.

“People go bathing in the lake there and children regularly feed the swans. You also see a lot of people a walking their dogs at Ladestown.

“The council has worked very hard to improve the water quality at Lough Ennell, as have many local people.

“Let's install CCTV [new legislation is set to be enacted in the coming weeks], catch these people in the act and fine them. If they are willing to engage in this sort of reckless behaviour, you have to wonder what else they are going to do.”

In January, Cllr Davitt proposed that a vacant fisheries building at Ladestown be renovated and used for public toilets.

She says that if the building was brought back into use as public toilets it would eventually save the council money as it is currently renting portable toilets from a private contractor.

When contacted by the Westmeath Examiner, the council issued this statement:

“Anti-social behaviour has occurred on a number of occasions over recent weeks at Ladestown.

The portaloo was removed by Municipal District staff as soon as reports were received.

Ladestown is regularly monitored and maintained by the Municipal District.”