Coastal plans for the West

TWO popular coastal areas in west Sligo need to have greater facilities and access - but the council says it first has to focus its attention on other seaside resorts in the county in search of Blue Flag status.

Motions from Cllr Michael Clarke at last week’s meeting of the Ballymote/Tubbercurry Municipal District called on the council to liaise with the Skreen/Dromard Community Council with a view with the development of facilities at Dunmoran Beach, including a car park extension, showers and changing rooms, disabled toilets and an upgraded access road.

Cllr Clarke, in a separate motion, called on the council to engage with Templeboy Aughris Rural Action (TARA) to help develop similar facilities at Aughris Pier, as well as repairs to a wall on the bridge and a sign to tell visitors to keep their dog on a leash.

Both areas have been well-known attractions for locals and tourists alike, and have increased in popularity even further in recent years.

The summer of 2020 showed, Cllr Clarke said, the popularity of both areas during which ‘ thousands’ of people travelled to the seaside areas.

The local communities are very keen to develop facilities locally, he said, and it was his hope that the council would engage proactively with the groups in question to help improve the offering at both Dunmoran and Aughris for tourists and locals alike.

Acting Chief Executive Tom Kilfeather, in response, said there was little or no funding available for the projects outlined by Cllr Clarke, but the council would liaise with the local groups where possible with regard to certain improvements that could be made.

Signage for dogs to be kept on their leash, and repairs to the bridge wall, will both be carried out in the new year at Aughris, however.

In 2021, Mr Kilfeather said, the council’s focus would be on establishing better toilet facilities at both Enniscrone and Rosses Point, with a view to achieving Blue Flag status in both locations.

They would be the council’s priority in the coming 12 months, he explained, but the council will keep in touch with both Dunmoran and Aughris with a view to future improvements.

Cllr Clarke thanked Mr Kilfeather for his report and said it was his hope that when Enniscrone and Rosses Point works were complete, attention would then turn to both Aughris and Dunmoran.