New access point means Wexford homeowners will no longer have to drive on beach to get to their properties
Wexford PeopleA new access road is to be installed at Kilpatrick Beach in north Wexford to allow property owners to drive safely to and from their homes. Currently those living in four affected houses must drive on the beach if they wish to exit or access their properties, however, Wexford County Council (WCC) has designed plans to cater for residents.
Having held a pre-planning meeting earlier this month, environmental engineer Enda Brennan said the council is now ready to apply to the Office of Public Works (OPW) to fund the scheme which will include the installation of rock armour at the beach. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD), Mr Brennan said the works would provide much needed relief for homeowners in the area.
“We need to provide an access roadway for the houses, currently they’re having to drive onto the beach,” he said. “The pre-planning meeting has already taken place so the next stage is making the formal submission.”
In addition to the new four metre wide roadway, Mr Brennan said the current pathway to the beach may need to be “remodelled” and that the existing culvert at Kilpatrick will be repaired and upgraded.
While Mr Brennan and his team have been working on his project for some time, Councillor Joe Sullivan said that without the intervention of one man it would never have reached this stage.
“This has come to fruition because of the work of (director of roads) Eamonn Hore,” said Cllr Sullivan. “He went up there 15 months ago and every day since this project has moved forward. Eamonn established a rapport with the minister and will secure the necessary funding for these works.”
With regards to erosion issues in Courtown, Mr Brennan confirmed that a meeting with the local golf club, Coillte, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was scheduled for the coming weeks.