River Authority needed on Boyne
Dear Sir,
With reference to last week’s feature on Drogheda Port, now is an opportune time to consider the future of the entire river, rather than simply one of its aspects, its use as a port.
The Boyne has some six functions at present, namely as a port, a place of waste and sewerage disposal, a source of water for domestic and industrial consumption, a commercial fishery, a recreational amenity and a wildfowl habitat. The interests of the fisherman, recreationalist and naturalist seem to play a poor second fiddle to those of commerce, industry and town.
Drogheda Port as the article noted is moving down river. This expansion downstream is due to the expansion of industry along the river. Not all industries have located riverside simply because of the port facilities.
Some use the rivers waters in their manufacturing process and as a place of waste disposal. One might question the wisdom of allowing the establishment of some of these concerns. (Is a tidal port suitable as an oil depot? What happens if a tanker runs aground at the bar? or if a chemical finds its way into the river?). It is clear that the rivers uses as a port and as a location for industry are closely allied.
However, most waste disposal into the Boyne is of sewage. Some of this comes from as far upstream as Navan and Trim; and is borne part of the way by the;water we drink. Like many other Irish towns Drogheda has turned its back on the river and used it as a dump..
The former action of course, follows from the latter. One does not look out upon a dump, better to turn one’s back on the problem and pretend it doesn’t exist! Look at the stretch of river between Dominic’s Bridge and Marys Bridge. What a pleasing vista, derelict buildings, emptying sewerage pipes, plastic and alloy waste everywhere. - The Boyne fisheries have decided greatly. Commercial net fishing is almost extinct. The salmon of knowledge, being a wise old fish, declines a polluted river. The mussel beds were badly disturbed by industrial development. And for those who fish for sport, rather than for a living, what prospects are there? mullet by the million?
The Boyne’s recreational role must be reviewed as potential rather than actual.
Around Drogheda river walks exist on the South bank only upriver from the Bridge of Peace, and on the North bank only at Donor’s Green. The former is excellent and demonstrates the rivers recreational potential, the latter is depressing, despite the efforts of voluntary workers. Could it be awaiting an industrial fate? Water sports could find an existence on the river, given the right conditions. Rowing has moved upstream to Mell and survived, canoeists and speed-boaters also use the river.
As a wudtowl habitat the river estuary has suffered from the same industrial development that disturbed the mussel beds. However, it still survives, Deo Gratias.
Six functions then for the Boyne. Have some uses dominated to the detriment of others? Certainly the river should serve commercial, industrial and urban needs, but there is a difference between service and abuse. The abused frequently dies.
We need an authority that will seek to promote the rivers health (remembering that the healthy subject is both Versatile and adaptable) and reconsile its different uses. The Thames has not carried him through some ceased to be a great highway of commerce, nor the home of industry, and housing, because it is no longer polluted. A river authority is needed NOW.
ADRIAN OUGHTON, Harmony Heights, , Newfoundwell, Droeheda