Cliff walk remains partially closed until summer due to landslides
ONE of Ireland’s most popular coastal walks will remain partially closed at least until summer, with a section having been made unsafe by erosion.
The Bray to Greystones cliff walk is normally enjoyed by thousands of walkers every day in warmer months, connecting the two Co. Wicklow towns by a scenic clifftop path that is a little over 8.5km in length when the route is fully open.
But a number of landslides in recent months caused by heavy rainfall have left a section of the path on the Greystones side unsafe for walkers. Now Wicklow
County Council is working on adjusting the route to avoid the hazardous area. The council is currently waiting on finalisation of land purchases to begin work on the new section.
Funding of €200,000 has been ring-fenced for the project, and Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore told the Irish Mail on Sunday that she expects the works to be done to enable the walk to be open by summer.
The closure has been a blow to locals and tourists, as well as businesses in both towns that pick up footfall from those walking the track.
Social Democrat Ms Whitmore, who is a regular user of the path, said: ‘It’s a really, really popular route. And it’s popular not only with local residents but also people coming from Dublin and elsewhere.
‘While I understand why the walk had to be closed and the council’s priority must be the safety of walkers, I think this underscores the need to have continual maintenance of the site to ensure that, once the immediate issues are resolved.’