Independent Councillor Patrick Clarke has written to the National Trust seeking a meeting to discuss Murlough Nature Reserve entry restrictions.
National Trust plans he says restrict parts of Murlough National Reserve to be reversed to allow people who hold fobs for the gate to access with vehicles after 4.30pm.
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Councillor Patrick Clarke is concerned at the introduction of fobs and limited access to Murlough Nature Reserve.[/caption]
Councillor  Clarke said: “I have written to the National Trust to express how very deeply concerned and disappointed I am that access to parts of the Murlough Nature Reserve is to be restricted.
“I have been advised the Trust is to now abandon a pass system which allows residents of the greater Dundrum area to drive onto the Reserve’s more secluded north point.
“This will mean access to the north point for motorists wanting to use the large car park will only permitted at certain times.
“Under the present system key fobs give local residents the opportunity to drive through an automatic gate to the car park. The scheme which is primarily used by local pensioners makes it a lot easier for them to access the beach and picturesque reserve rather than walking almost a mile from the nearest car park.”
Councillor Patrick Clarke added: “The key fob system is an extension of an arrangement put in place when the National Trust bought 700 acres of the 6,000 year-old dunes from Lord Downshire in the mid 1960’s. It is well known that Lord Downshire had close links to Dundrum village and decreed residents should continue to have unfettered access to the area after the National Trust took over.
“This continued until 2004 when a group of travellers spent some time on the north point, prompting the National Trust to lock the main gate which leads to the area. Villagers who regularly drove up to the north point car park were given keys to the gate which were replaced by key fobs when the gate was automised several years ago.
“However, local residents in Dundrum received a letter to fob holders that the Trust’s South Down general manager, Jonathan Clarke, announced would be reviewong the fob system.
“This will seriously hit the pensioners, without a doubt as many elderly people walk early in the morning and many others walk in the evening.
“Parking on the north point means they can walk on the beach or in the reserve without having to walk almost a mile from the Keel Point car park.
“I trust as a matter or urgency that I will receive a response to set up a meeting.”
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