Members ask that the Burrow Road stay open
COUNCILLORS have urged council officials not to close the Burrow Road to cars, as this may have a negative impact on a number of sections of the community.
Cliona Connelly from the environment section told councillors that the team were considering closing off the road in Courtown for the use of pedestrians and cyclists only.
The aim would be to alleviate any illegal activity that would have been seen – particularly on the cricket field in recent years – but that those living nearby would be consulted.
Overwhelmingly, the councillors agreed that the Burrow Road be left open going forward.
‘Courtown is a holiday resort and the guards are patrolling it quite well,’ said Cllr Pip Breen.
‘Certainly the older people are the most vulnerable at this time so if it’s of benefit to them, then I’m happy leaving it open,’ said Cllr Donal Kenny.
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux described it as a catch-22 situation.
‘Last year, we fought to keep it open for sail and rescue but social distancing has ruled that out significantly now. There are a lot of people walking that road, but the view of the people on the ground would be that it be left open. But it’s a difficult decision for the officials to make,’ said Cllr Devereux.
Cllr Anthony Donohoe said that some older or vulnerable people just want to sit in their cars and watch the beach.
‘The by-laws we brought in around camping and enforcement should be able to help the gardaí with any illegal activity,’ he said.
In a counter point, Amanda
Byrne suggested that seats and benches could be erected and make the road car-free, creating a safe recreational space.
‘Taking cars off the road may have a greater value for older people and young parents with toddlers than being able to drive down it. Although there are vulnerable people, there’s a lot of people in between, a middle ground that it could provide a greater value for if they weren’t trying to share the space with cars,’ she said.
Cllr Joe Sullivan said that he didn’t particularly have the able-bodied community in mind and was thinking of wheelchair users.
‘Not everybody is able to walk, some people have to be driven to those points. It’s the poor unfortunate people who just like to see the beach and get as close to it as they can on occasion. We do not want to exclude anyone,’ said Cllr Sullivan
‘It would be the will of the councillors that it stay open, and I’d like that to carry a certain amount of weight if it could. Keeping it open will help social distancing the more spaces that are available, it’ll create more room,’ he said.
Cliona said that this would be passed back to the section.