A Ballintoy Disaster

amcinroy

Did anyone hear about the new 9 foot fence put up at Ballintoy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7210048.stm

Sadly, we will no longer be able to visit the great elephant shown below. This path actually forms part of the Causeway Coast Way which attracts visitors from all over the world.

A very sad day. I just hope that Moyle Council will do the right thing and dismantle it. Otherwise I'll be climbing round the high water line.

But in the long term, it's about time Ireland got it's land access legislation sorted out.



Andy

rymus

it never ceases to surprise and amaze me the stupid things that local authorities do for seemingly no good reason. Take it as incentive to invest in a good, portable cutting torch Andy.

amcinroy

Rymus,

It is actually the farmer who has put up the fence. But it's Moyle council that are pussyfooting around. They are the only people who have the authority to take it down.

They've agreed to "put it on the agenda for next month". Well that's one way of doing it. But a more effective way might be to get a team of dismantlers down there today before NI tourism is dealt a severe blow.

Andy

rymus

rats.. just when I was all set to blame the council, it's a farmers fault. That'll teach me to read the article before going for the pitchfork

amcinroy

I'll give the council until the end of the week.

Then I'll be joining you with that pitchfork.

Andy

Psychobiker

Bolt croppers. Don't piss around.

L

Cabaal

It looks like its one of those building site wire frame fences from the picture on the BBC site, there easy get around, they don';t stand up to much at all

magicbastarder

amcinroy wrote: »

But in the long term, it's about time Ireland got it's land access legislation sorted out.

is the legislation up north different to the UK as a whole?

bigeoino

"health and safety reasons"...
I believe that that similar reasons were used to close the Old head of Kinsale...

Basically I would guess that it boils down to money. If I was being open minded I would assume the farmer would like some compensation from the council from damage caused by the access rather than just trying to get a share of the tourism pie...

Calina

I thought access on the Old Head of Kinsale was golflinks related...

JMcL

Calina wrote: »

I thought access on the Old Head of Kinsale was golflinks related...

There was an established right of way, and it was part of the planning approval that this be maintained. But when the golf course got up and running they decided they didn't like the possibility of the great unwashed possibly causing damage to their precious golf balls by putting their head in their path, and removed access on spurious "health and safety" grounds. Cork Co Council of course stood up them and defended the centuries old right of the public to access the head - my arse.

magicbastarder

related news:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0129/breaking30.htm

amcinroy

That latest news about the Causeway is perhaps no bad thing.

I doubt Mr Sweeny's proposal had the Causeway's best interests as a world heritage site at heart.

Andy