News and views on Greystones harbour and marina [SEE MODERATOR WARNING POST 1187]

The submissions to the Local Area draft development plan have all been considered now by the council , and the proposed amendments by WCC are available online. (Scroll down to; "Stage 3" then "the managers report")


On P.102 a submission by "Greystones Harbour and North Beach Action Plan" reports that

The lack of coastal protection has led to division of the beach at The Gap Bridge. Request Council to review and provide secondary access to North Beach, at the site of where the Historic Gap Bridge was removed. This access is missed by local residents at north of the town.

The county manager responds by recommending "no change" to the draft plan because;

Due to coastal erosion issues, there is no feasible option available at this stage, to provide secondary access to North Beach.

However, in the other document; Stage 3 "proposed material alterations" it is proposed to make a subtle change to the wording of the part dealing with the harbour environs;

PROPOSED MATERIAL ALTERATION NO. 24
10.4 AP3: GREYSTONES HARBOUR AND NORTH BEACH ACTION PLAN; Zone 2 Public Park
Creation of an attractive linear coastal public park to include:
Provision of new landscaped public park for passive recreation and some appropriate sporting uses, incorporating Wicklow Coastal Walk and access to any future Heritage Park at the site of medieval Rathdown
Appropriate planting, walkways, signage and seating to form a pleasant and successful outdoor public open space
Capping and landscaping of the old dump, with planting to form an integral part of the park
Creation of a sandy cove at the north end of the proposed development with good beach access from adjacent public car parking
Provision of road access and public car parking with suitably located toilet and washroom facilities.
Provision of coastal protection from the harbour/marina to at least 250m past the Gap Bridge. Cliffs to be re-graded and high level and low level walks with occasional access to the beach provided with appropriate planting on the slopes and sides of the walkways.
The park is to be of contemporary design which will attract wide public use. It is intended to be an integral part of the development design concept to form a natural transition between the harbour development, the possible future heritage park, and the outstanding beauty of the natural coastal landscape up to Bray Head.

So the proposal is to remove the strikethrough text which is currently in the draft plan (without the strikethrough). This removes the obligation/aspiration to restore public access points at the former Gap Bridge and any further access points, such as the old steps that once led down to the far end of the North Beach.

The public have a chance to comment on the proposed alterations from 7th May until 4th June. Then the proposals will be voted on by councillors.

I was down there recently and there is a fair sized cliff, about 3 metres, where the Gap Bridge ramp used to be. I also noticed a plastic drainage pipe has appeared hanging in mid-air, along the cliff between (former) Gap Bridge and the harbour. This was installed by machinery in a trench between the outer silver coloured fence and the inner green fence, only two or three years ago.There is no trace of the outer fence any more. Its obvious the erosion has got way out of control, but using this as an official excuse not to provide the public access points, instead of actually trying to tackle the problem is disappointing.