‘Aggressive’ erosion is damaging Strandhill dunes and walkways
WHAT was described as “aggressive” coastal erosion is causing serious damage to sand dunes and walkways at Strandhill beach, a meeting of Sligo County Council heard.
Cllr MacSharry proposed a motion that the council “assess the damage done to the fencing and walkways at the dunes on Strandhill beach as a result of coastal erosion”. In a report on the motion, senior engineer Tom Brennan said that the council’s Structures and Marine Section inspected the dunes and fencing at Strandhill earlier this month.
“There is both coastal erosion and pedestrian erosion to be seen. It is hoped to carry out some minor works this spring, with a funding application to be made also to the OPW under its Coastal Erosion Minor Works Programme,” he said. Cllr MacSharry asked that the council would do what it can as quickly as possible.
He said thast what could only be described as “aggressive” coastal erosion was causing serious damage to the dunes.
“A small child can now cross the fence and the dunes are being damaged,” he said.
And Cllr MacSharry said that the walkway was “almost obliterated”. He said that he knew that there were people who were not in favour of rock armour but he felt it had to be considered.
Cllr Sinead Maguire said that the
Strandhill community development association was working with the council on this.
She said that a potential area of rock armour was being looked at but the fencing needed to be reinstated as its purpose was to trap sand.
She said that people believed that the rock armour put in place to protect the sewage treatment plant had actually contributed to the demolition of the large dunes.
“You are working literally against the might of Mother Nature and we need technical experience in this area to deal with what is needed,” she said.