SOUTHSIDE residents have warned Dublin City Council
that they will not tolerate any proposal to increase the height of the sea wall
along part of the coast.
Locals in Sandymount are alarmed that the council is
considering installing coastal defences in the area.
An attempt by the local authority to build a high wall
along the promenade in Clontarf last year sparked huge controversy.
In response to a written question asked by Cllr Jim
O’Callaghan (FF), Dublin City manager John Tierney confirmed recently that the
council intends to examine the possibility of building local improvements to
coastal defences in Sandymount this year.
Mr Tierney said the council had identified a high risk
of coastal flooding in the area.
The council originally planned to build a nine feet
high wall along the promenade in Clontarf to prevent against coastal flooding
but later reduced the proposed height by two feet following objections. Locals
claimed they had not been notified about the planning process. They also argued
that the height of the wall would completely block out sea views.
On November 27 last year approximately 3,000
protesters turned out in Clontarf to voice their vehement opposition to the
council’s proposals.
The Clontarf proposal has since been shelved by Dublin
City Council.
Lorna Kelly, a planning officer for the Sandymount and
Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA), explained that the council had
previously suggested increasing the height of the sea wall along stretches of
Beach Road and Strand Road in Sandymount in an attempt to prevent coastal
flooding.
However, she said local residents in Sandymount, like
their counterparts in Clontarf, would be vehemently opposed to any plans to
increase the height of the sea wall in the area for a number of reasons.
“The council is talking about reclaiming the beach to
a width of about 12 metres,
? she said.
“This is no little thing they are
talking about. This is big.
“It would rise above the height of the existing sea
wall so you wouldn’t see the sea as you were walking along and there would be
no beach left. There would be no bank of sand on the opposite side of the wall
for the kids to play on any more.
?
Ms Kelly said residents believe that instead of
raising the height of the existing sea wall the council should lower the level
of the beach on the sea side.
Cllr Jim O’Callaghan (FF) urged the council to consult
comprehensively with residents on the issue to avoid repeating the controversy
that ensued in Clontarf.
“Because of the way Clontarf was handled I thought I
should ask the question if there were any similar plans for the Southside,
? he
explained.
“Any proposal that is advanced has to be done in consultation with
the local community and the councillors.
“They need to talk to people about it in advance as
opposed to coming along and saying here is the plan.
?
A spokesperson for the city council confirmed that it
intended to examine the possibility of local improvements to coastal defences
at Sandymount this year in view of the identified high risk.
However, the spokesperson insisted that local
councillors and the public would be fully involved in the development of any
flood defence scheme in the area.
“Surveys will initially be carried out to determine
the structural stability of the existing sea wall,
? the spokesperson said.
“It is very encouraging that the local elected public
representatives are both aware of the coastal flood risk and recognise the need
for the construction of new defences.
?