Portrane homes at ‘severe threat’ says local representative

Homes at Beach Lane in Portrane are under the “severe threat” of coastal erosion, says a local Labour representative.

Corina Johnston said that the homes affected by the erosion need to be protected by Fingal County Council before they are irreparably damaged.

“Over the last few years Duncan Smith TD and I have been persistent in pursuing the need for the Beach Lane access road fronting 12 homes to be protected from coastal erosion,” she said.

“While discussions have been ongoing with Fingal County Council the situation has become critical as we predicted.”

Johnston said that the rate of erosion has “accelerated” since the beginning of the year and the road has become “impassable in recent days.”

“Duncan and I visited the area yesterday and were shocked at the extent of the deterioration.

“We have repeatedly raised the need for the Seabees to be temporarily installed along the beach fronting the road in an effort to slow down the rate of erosion and protect the homes while an alternative access road is pursued in advance of the permanent Groynes solution which it seems is a number of years away.”

However, Fingal County Council said that the use of SeaBees “is not the optimum way of addressing these issues and that an alternative access to the properties is a more appropriate approach.

“Discussions are ongoing with local landowners with a view to providing the access required.”

Johnston said the council’s response was “extremely” disappointing and it was “unacceptable that such a critical decision was taken by the Fingal’s Coastal Liaison group without a meeting or consultation with the residents beforehand.

“It has always been our position that the existing Seabees along the beach needed to be extended fronting the houses.

“As the situation is critical and access to the properties under threat we have submitted the following motion to the next council meeting:

“That this committee recommends to the CEO that Sea Bees be acquired and installed fronting the properties at  Beach Lane the Burrow Portrane as a matter of urgency.”

Johnston said that ”given the seriousness of the situation we are calling on all public representatives to support this motion in an effort to save this road access and ultimately the 12 homes.”