This article is from page 37 of the 2007-06-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 37 JPG
CLARE County Council has ap- pealed the decision by An Taisce to remove the prestigious International Blue Flag from White Strand, Doon- leeren
While the International jury con- siders the unfavourable verdict, the local authority is continuing to carry out works on the beach, and other beaches along the west coast.
The Doonbeg beach lost its blue en- vironment flag this week, not because of inadequate bathing water quality but due to improvement works at the beach, which Clare County Council expects to complete in the near fu- neko
Sean Ward, Senior Engineer, En- vironment & Emergency Services Directorate, said “we are very dis- appointed with the loss of the blue flag for Doonbeg. Major improve- ments works have been underway at this beach to improve access, and we hope to have them completed by the end of this month. We have appealed this decision to the International Jury and look forward to a favourable out- ey anton
To date this year the council has re- paired steps to the southern part of the beach and provided a new view- ing area on promontory that provides a general outlook and a facility for people with limited mobility who may not wish to go down on to the
beach.
The council also expects to restore the “Biocycle” unit to serve seasonal toilets, guard rails along the south- ern steps, a new ramp to the northern part of the beach to replace existing steps in place in the near future.
Further back the peninsula in Car- rigaholt, on the north side of the Moyarta river plans are in place for ramped access to the beach.
With the support of the local devel- Opment committee the council plans to erect a barrier at the entrance to the pier. The local authority also plans to repair and restore low walls, shrub beds and picnic areas, and de- fine and mark parking spaces.
Repairs and restoration works at
Glasheen Cove, Doonaha are to be completed before the end of the year.
The council has planned short stretches of new footpath to link the car park with existing paths and steps inside the stonewall, as well as providing suitable information and signage at the cove, the picnic area is to be extended and a viewing plat- form provided.
At Brew’s Bridge in Kilrush, the council is to demolish the shelter and replace it with a new, more transpar- ent one.
The derelict swings are to be re- moved and seats installed, with the railway embankment landscaped.