The great debate - cars on Bettystown beach - is it yes or no?
ALISON COMYN GETS THE VIEWS OF LOCAL PEOPLE ON KEEPING THE BEACH CLOSED. FOR SOME, IT HAS TRANSFORMED IT INTO A SAFE HAVEN, FOR OTHERS, IT’S A REAL HEADACHE
IT is the issue that is dividing a small coastal community. Should cars be allowed back onto Bettystown and Laytown beaches after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted? Or should the temporary measures now be made more permanent and ban vehicular traffic from the strands once and for all? From longtime residents to business owners, local politicians to school children; everyone has an opinion and their own valid reasons for coming down on one side or the other.
William Boshell is the secong generation of business owners in Bettystown and Laytown, with busy Centra shops in both locations.
He feels locals are being railroaded into change.
“The beach was closed to traffic because of COVID-19, but has someone overstepped the mark and it is now being kept closed for another reason,” he asks angrily.
“I have not one parking space left for either shop in Laytown or Bettystown, and even though I am at busting point, there is an empty car park across the road from me.
“Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington are being sold as a commuter belt to the city. Some 18 months ago I attended a meeting when this was debated. I said there were not adequate parking spaces for the commuters, never mind anyone else, and now most of them are off work, when all of them go back, all those spaces will be filled. They usually park and the commuters clog up all the spaces. There are some who constantly say that the private parking in the villages belong to the public - but Tesco spaces belong to Tesco, Centra spaces belong to Centra, Funtasia spaces belong to Funtasia”.
William is certain the beach should not be closed to traffic until adequate parking is provided and that will never happen.
“There are plans to build a 7,000 sq ft library in Bettystown square, with no car parking provided, but reducing the parking at the shop by 50%.
“The beach has been used by the public for over 100 years, so should 200 or 300 people have the right to change that,” he says.
“I think there is more danger in closing it to traffic, as if someone has a heart attack on the beach, or a child gets into bother in the water, an ambulance can’t get on to the beach at the moment. No one has thought of that.
“There are 2,000 acres of beach, and the cars were only ever taking up around 10 acres or less, so they already were corralled and not that bad at all.
“The cart is being put before the horse here - hundreds of commuters and no extra parking, and new buildings with no parking - when the 20km allowance comes in, it will be hugely dangerous”.
Neighbouring business owner Marina Redden of Redden’s Bar and Restaurant is of the same opinion, that banning cars altogether is not the solution.
“I am totally opposed to removing cars from the beach, and instead I think there should be cameras installed and a warden,” says Marina.
“The majority of cars that park on the beach all year round are elderly people who love to drive on and sit and enjoy the view. I have several elderly, disabled and intellectually challenged people who come into me and the highlight of their week is to enjoy the beach, and I love to see them and their carers down there.”
She points out that the parking issue is there all year round, and it is not just because of the cars being off the beach.
“The village has been chock a block for the past few weeks, and they have all been local people, and you can’t park in a private car park,” she adds.
“I believe there are 14,000 people living here and only 270 work here, so the beach has been closed due to Covid and people have a lot on their minds, and it’s not the time for permanent change”.
The differing opinions stretch to other residents and regular beach users too, but many agree that parking alternatives need to be provided immediately.
“The beach is fantastic as a result of the cars being gone, and I think it should be the long-term goal to ban them completely, but there needs to be parking facilities in place before that is done,” says Bettystown native Bill McDonough, a videographer.
“The council needs to get involved and come up with solutions, whether that is using spaces that are already there at the schools, or Tesco, O’Donovan’s or Funtasia, but it can’t be just closed to traffic and not re-open, so I hope they get together in the next while and work it out, before the 5km restriction is lifted”.
Reknowed photographer Eimhear Collins is a frequent user of the beach both for walking and her photography and says she has been struck at how beautiful the beach looks in recent weeks without the cars. “In general I think cars should not be allowed on beaches, however Bettystown beach is one of only a handful of beaches on the east coast that allows cars and has always been a Godsend for people with disabilities and their carers and also the elderly and infirm,” she tells the Drogheda Independent.
“In my opinion there should be access - perhaps a barrier system at the entrance of the beach where people can press in a code which allows them access.
‘ The beaches should be accessible for all members of the community, not just able bodied people.
‘ They don’t have a voice and need others to speak up for them on issues like this. I would be saddened to see these members of our com
munity deprived of their much loved visits to the beach as I am aware of how much joy it brings to their lives”.
However, part-time resident Kelly Fincham, who splits her time with a home in New York begs to differ.
“The beach has been much better without cars as there have been no joyriders and it has been safe for the elderly and disabled people,” feels Kelly. “There can be a mindset that says because we have always done it this way, it can’t be done any other way, and I can’t think of any good reason why you should allow cars back on the beach.
“I have avoided using the beach for decades, and am amazed at how it has been transformed in recent months.”
THE CART IS BEING PUT BEFORE THE HORSE HERE - HUNDREDS OF COMMUTERS AND NO EXTRA PARKING, NEW BUILDINGS AND NO NEW PARKING - WHEN THE 20KM ALLOWANCE COMES BACK IN, IT WILL BE HUGELY DANGEROUS