Woodvale Toilets - is the saga over yet?

Moyle Council has been trying to sell the closed down property saying they don't need two sets of public conveniences within a short distance of each other.

But local residents protested saying they wanted the facility re-opened and then last month it emerged that a community group in the area tabled their own bid for the property.

The bid to buy Woodvale Toilets came in on the same night when the community group also asked Moyle Council if they would let the building to them for a peppercorn rent.

But last month the Council did not discuss the rent letter, with councillors accepting the offer to buy instead.

Now at the main March meeting of the Council, Woodvale Toilets got another mention.

Ulster Unionist councillor Willie Graham said the letter regarding the peppercorn rent was never discussed by the Council and he said it should have been considered.

Council Chief Executive Richard Lewis said the letter was circulated at a recent meeting but there was no discussion on it.

He said the Council decided to accept the highest bid for the property and that "overtook" the leasing matter.

But at last week's meeting, Council Vice-Chairperson, Cllr Robert McIlroy (DUP), said the community group is asking why if they write a letter asking for a discussion it did not take place.

Independent councillor Price McConaghy said a discussion had been taking place which "overtook" that letter.

Independent councillor Seamus Blaney said the Council had agreed to sell the toilets long before the letter was received.

He said the toilets are costing "a fortune" in terms of advertising them for sale and other costs and he said the Council should proceed as previously stated with the sale and that was agreed.