[Pic: Brian Byrne]
A COUNCIL DECISION to impose new parking restrictions on Dollymount Beach in Dublin is being met with some opposition locally, with concerns they could lead to major traffic congestion in the area — particularly on sunny days like today.
Some beach-goers have also raised concerns that people who have difficulty walking, including wheelchair-users, may be adversely impacted by the new arrangements — which have been in place for the last few weeks.
According to Dublin City Council, the new barriers were put in place following an incident involving a car stuck in the sand, which led to a woman being injured.
Due to the haphazard nature of parking, emergency vehicles had difficulty attending to the incident and the Gardai subsequently advised that the cars should no longer be permitted onto the beach,” according to a statement from the Council.
“This was the culmination of a number of incidents where the 24 hour access to the beach from the causeway has resulted in serious anti-social activity and concern for public safety.”
The beach, which runs for 5km along the length of Bull Island on the north side of Dublin Bay, was once fully open to traffic — but in recent years, parking has been permitted in two limited areas at the ’causeway’ end and the ‘wooden bridge’ end.
However, temporary plastic barriers have now been put in place at both entrances. Beachgoers heading for a dip today have reported a large build-up of traffic along the wooden bridge as a result.
A Facebook page has been set up to protest the move, with one local commenting that “our cars will now be completely isolated, exposed and at the mercy of the car thieves… All because of the hassle of people getting stuck in soft sand”.
However, the chairperson of the Clontarf Residents Association, Deirdre Tobin, said they were waiting to hear more about the Council’s plans.
“Whether it’s a permanent thing or an exercise we don’t know. We’ll have to find out before our next meeting,” Tobin said.
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