Time to respect our beaches as valuable and natural asset

THE Bettystown and Laytown Beach Managament Committee (BMC) says urgent action is needed to tackle the serious issues they are facing, ahead of the busy summer season.

Members have been calling for more bins and a warden to be in place from Easter onwards, yet say nothing has been done, and enforcement of bye-laws on litter, cars and alcohol on the beach needs to be strictly enforced by Meath County Council.

“Imagine the beach on a sunny summer’s day, taking a calming stroll or lying on your beach towel, kids making sand castles and paddling in the shallows,” says BMC PRO George Karrellas.

“Now imagine it without rows of cars. Meath’s coast could be a serene and stunning place of sanctuary for all.

“We are literally beset by joyriders on the beach at times. Even the cars parking is a legacy from a time when there were very few even on the road. We’re living in the 21st century; the beach isn’t a race track, a driving centre or a place to empty your ashtray, it’s a getaway, a playground, a nature reserve and a place of irreplaceable natural beauty. We should start acting like it.”

The man who was threatened by a joyrider on the beach recently says the local councillors and BMC seem powerless to stop this type of behaviour, and Meath County Council are failing in their “duty of care” to all residents and visitors by not enforcing their own Bye Laws.

“We, as beach users, must therefore try to protect ourselves by reporting dangerous driving and

anti-social behaviour to the Gardai,” says the man who doesn’t wish to be identified.

“This is the only way we can make our beach safe for all and be able to enjoy this wonderful natural amenity.”

The woman who also witnessed the recent incident at Bettystown beach says it is time to re-examine the parking and vehicular situation at the strands.

“Even ordinary motorists don’t respect the speed limit on the beach, and the boy racers on the beach show no regard for life, their’s or our’s,” she adds.

“We have a wonderful amenity here, and it is a small minority who will eventually spoil it for everyone else, but we shouldn’t let them defeat us.”