Council reveal exciting plans for White Rocks Beach

Speaking at last Tuesday night's Leisure and Environment Committee Meeting, Director of Environmental Health, Kieran Doherty, told councillors that the area was a 'key asset' as he revealed plans to turn the zone in to a Coastal Park and Nature Reserve.

He said: "In 2009 council approved a work plan by the Coastal Management Committee on a range of issues affecting council's use and management of the coastal strip.

"A key element of this work plan was to look at the wider context of the White Rocks Beach and associated facilities as part of an area on outstanding natural beauty and as part of an area of special scientific interest. Work has been going on for some time and a 'concept plan' has been drafted.

"The vision for this area is the creation of a Coastal Park and the designation of the White Rocks coastal strip as a Local Nature Reserve."

Lead officers for the project, Mark Strong and Jim Allen, said that the beach had tripled in popularity over recent years.

"The beach is being used all year round now and has become a 'mecca' for surfing," said Mr Allen.

"However it's not just surfers who are taking advantage of this stunning beach as it has a diverse user base. As a result the area has become a victim of its own success and it is unable to accommodate all its visitors now.

"This is what has inspired us to look at making a number of improvements to the area."

The officers have targeted the erosion of the dunes, particularly at the entrance point to the beach, the aggressive plants in the area such as buckthorn, traffic congestion both on the entrance to the beach and the road leading down to the car parks, improvements to the car parks on site and improvements to the facilities on site.

"We believe that simplistic measures can be taken now to help traffic flow on to the site," said Mr Strong. "On a busy day it can be very difficult to enter and exit the area on to the main road. and that needs to be looked at long term along with the widening of the road down on to the beach.

"Also we propose to make better use of the car parks to ease traffic flow and provide more spaces for the beach users.

"A series of interlinking boardwalks, which will be environmentally sensitive, from each of the car parks will provide a safe new walkway and entrance on to the beach, so as we can repair the old entrance point which is being continually eroded. We will also provide a new entrance and exit for horse users."

Mr Allen added that beach users had raised concerns about the facilities. He said: "Concerns have been raised why the toilet block is closed in the off peak season despite the fact that the beach is still popular.

"We need to make improvements to make sure the area better accommodates its increased use and popularity."

Councillors agreed to the concept of a Coastal Park and authorised the preparation of more detailed options for evaluation later in the year.