The Rocks requires refurbishment
THERE were a number of calls at last week’s meeting for a refurbishment of the popular area known as the ‘ The Rocks’ at Gibraltar.
The area, which has long been a popular amenity in good weather, has fallen into a state of disrepair over many years, the meeting heard, and should be restored.
Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady and Cllr Declan Bree had separate motions on the topic, with both seeking to have work done in the area.
Cllr O’Grady told the meeting that she had never seen the area used as much as in recent times, when people could not travel to other seaside areas due to the travel restrictions.
It was, she said, one of Sligo’s premier destinations in years gone by but since the arrival of more cars has been less popular.
Nonetheless, Cllr O’Grady said it is a ‘fantastic’ amenity and that the linear park idea should be advanced.
Echoing those sentiments, Cllr Declan Bree said it has been an issue that has come up time and again at council meetings.
He said that “little or no maintenance has been carried out on the tidal swimming pool and through time the pool and pathways were damaged by the elements.”
Cllr Bree called for a twophase project to restore the area: in Phase One, he proposed a reconstruction of the tidal swimming pool at Gibraltar; in Phase Two, he suggested the provision of a linear park system along the seashore from Gibraltar to the Sligo urban area at the docks.
Cllr Arthur Gibbons supported the motion, recalling his days there as a child. He said it was an “eyesore” at the moment and it could be restored to something of value.
In response, Director of Services Tom Kilfeather said the matter would first be referred to the Heritage Officer, as the area was located in a Special Area of Conservation.
Later this year the viability of the project could be considered, Mr Kilfeather said, and a funding scheme needed to be identified.