Concerns over ‘significant’ landslides on Waterford beach as summer season arrives
The issue was raised by Cllr Declan Clune at the May meeting of the Comeragh Municipal District
There are concerns over “significant” landslides on a beach in County Waterford, a council meeting has heard.
The issue was raised by independent councillor Declan Clune at the May meeting of the Comeragh Municipal District.
Cllr Clune said: “The first question is just around Ballydowane Cove. There’s been a couple of rock slides or landslides - basically the cliff falling onto the beach.
“There was one there about three and a half weeks ago and there was another one during this week.
“Just in terms of cliff faces etc., do we do regular inspections, visual inspections? I know previously we had those sort of works just in terms of averting any issues around that.
“Just with the summer season coming, I just want to make sure that there is no impending issues there.”
He concluded by saying that with Bunmahon recently being awarded a Blue Flag, the Copper Coast will likely have greater footfall this summer.
In response to Cllr Clune, Roger Noonan, Senior Executive Engineer at Waterford City and County Council, said he is aware of the incidents in question.
Mr Noonan stated: “I’m aware of the amount of slippage there in Ballydowan. It’s a significant slippage.
“What we propose to do is maybe put up one or two extra signs there because there are signs on the slip going down to the cove but when you walk along the beach obviously there are no signs.
“So I have asked for an extra sign or two to be put up on the cliff face just to make people more aware of it. That’s the extent of what we can do in that situation.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Burke asked whether an assessment of cliff faces along the Copper Coast has been carried out.
In response, Senior Engineer Maria Goff said that the council regularly conducts surveys in areas where there is a road close to a cliff face.