By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting
Coastal erosion along the Wexford coastline is high on the agenda again following recent storms and persistent heavy rainfall and the difficulties affecting seaside communities was raised at last Monday’s April meeting of Wexford County Council held at County Hall, Wexford. Cllr John Fleming, Cathaoirleach, presided.
During the recent Storm Kathleen, at Seaview, near Kilmore Quay, up to three metres of cliff disappeared into the sea! An access route serving Connibeg Cottages and Lismore Cottages, installed by Wexford County Council less than two years ago, is now out of commission because of erosion, while there are real worries about the future of the houses themselves.
Senior Engineer with Wexford County Council, Gerry Forde said the average loss of coastline over the years was about half a metre per year, but in recent times this has increased significantly.
“Over the weekend here, we lost about three metres at the edge of the access road and the access road to seven of the houses here has gone,” he said.
Storm activity during the last number of years has increased, bringing more erosion to soft coasts such as south Wexford.
Local Cllr Lisa McDonald told the meeting of Wexford County Council that the coastline is “very vulnerable due to the heavy storms hitting the southeast coast lately.” Cllr McDonald said; “Our coastline here is not rocky, it’s very vulnerable, it’s very soft, very soft soil. “We’ve been known for our golden beaches but now we’re seeing large chunks of our coastline being eaten up by each storm.”
Planning permission was granted to the council yesterday (Monday) for further rock armour work, to add to the protection work carried out two years ago, but it now needs to go to tender.
“The process is too slow,” Cllr McDonald said. “We need the OPW to keep the speed up because climate change has sped up and if it doesn’t keep pace with climate change, we’ll see large chunks disappear into the sea,” she added.
MINISTER PATRICK DONOVAN, CLLR JIM MOORE, CHAIR ROSSLARE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT, CLLR GER CARTHY and local residents at Seaview, Kilmore, today where severe coastal erosion has occurred. (PIC; OPW first published WexfordLocal.com November 2021).
On Monday, members agreed a proposed Part 8 planning development which involves “the protection of approximately 300 metres of cliff frontage at Seaview beach with integrated ramp access to the beach. This protection consists of rock armour revetment to the to the existing cliff face” and other works.
Cllr Ger Carthy felt that “we (the Council) are not taking coastal erosion seriously.”
Cllr McDonald said that access to the beach at Ballyhealy is gone and many more up the coast and she lamented “a lack of taking this seriously.”
Cllr Jim Moore said that Seaview has been a long-standing issue and he claimed, “there is a race against time to prevent making matters worse.” He continued; “Seaview is under threat. Neighbouring beaches are under threat. Repeated storms will put other people at risk. What is the Council going to do?”
Director of Services Carolyne Godkin appreciated what the members were saying, and the Council is engaging with multiple groups. “A temporary road has gone. The pinch point for access is under review at the moment.”
Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe said the Council will activate this scheme as quickly as possible. It will cost tens of millions of euro to get things done and Mr Taaffe confirmed that engineers have visited the scene.
Cllr Jim Codd raised issues around Cullenstown beach and Mr Taaffe recalled 25 years ago when he worked in coastal environment and is familiar with issues at Cullenstown beach.
Cllr Joe Sullivan told the meeting that Kilmichael, north of Courtown, has taken “a battering” and he felt there was no major plan for coastal erosion in North Wexford. “It is a large area of soft coastline, said Cllr Sullivan, who added; “Kilpatrick has lost 100 acres in the past 35 years.”
WexfordLocal.com 