Four Lecale villages celebrated a key step in their campaign to have local beaches nominated as Candidate EU Bathing Water Beaches under the EU Bathing Water Directive.
The villages of Kilclief, Ballyhornan, Coney Island and Killough have been campaigning for three years to have Lecale Coast beaches recognised in the same manner as beaches in North Down or on the North Coast. Funding obtained last year by South Down MLA Chris Hazzard was instrumental in removing administrative road-blocks to allow the applications to proceed with the aid of external consultants carrying out the work that Council staff did not have the skills to perform.
This week the cross-party group of 3 Councillors helping the villages in their campaign expressed their delight that Council had now finally agreed to submit applications under the EU directive. Local Independent Councillor Cadogan Enright, Ulster Unionist Robert Burgess from Rowallan and Sinn Féin’s Willie Clarke of Newcastle are all involved.
Cadogan Enright said: “This is all about water quality, when we get EU Bathing Water status, it will mean that our local Lecale beaches will have the same stringent requirements found on the Gold Coast and North Coast. And we can take action against the likes of NI Water for any infringement.”
Robert Burgess agreed and said that “along with Councillor Willie Clarke we have succeeded in setting up a Beach Forum to enhance environmental protections and Tourism along the coast from Strangford Lough to Carlingford Lough and utilize the skills Council has built up in the Strangford and Lecale Partnership to deliver it”.
MLA Chis Hazzard said: “This is also about economic development. Four years ago the new sewerage treatment works at Ardtole in Ardglass was downgraded to a level 2 system, and the plans to pipe sewerage there from other Lecale villages were scrapped. The sewerage system serving all the settlements on the Gold Coast in North Down went ahead.
“The reason given was that the DOE has recognised the Gold Coasts’s beaches as EU bathing water beaches but refused to recognize any but Murlough and Tyrella on the Lecale Coast. Lack of sewerage infrastructure her now inhibits economic development in our area in a manner it does not do in North Down. This is unacceptable”
Chair of Kilclief Residents Association Maurice Denvir said “We are calling on all local families, community groups, sports clubs and youth groups to plan to use the three beaches after schools get out for the summer holidays this year in June, July and August. To ensure that we have the numbers required to get recognition for Killough, Ballyhornan and Kilclief.”
Killough resident Kieron Black added: “All three beaches have nearby car-parking. Please use the bins provided or take your rubbish home so we don’t spoil our chances. The 8 key weekends when the EU inspectors come out are those in July and the first part of August”.
