Works to protect Rosslare coastline could cause long-term issues – ‘if we put in rock armour it will end up destroying what’s left of the beach’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

While the announcement that €600,000 in funding Is to be allocated to carry out coastal protection works in Rosslare Strand was welcomed by all those with a vested interest, there remains concerns that these emergency works will cause further problems at a later date.

Having spent time at Kelly’s Hotel and witnessed the issues Bill Kelly and his staff are facing as the land around the property rapidly disappears, Councillor Lisa McDonald has called upon the Office of Public Works (OPW) to carefully analyse the area before committing to a scheme.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD), Cllr McDonald said it wouldn’t be enough to simply install rock armour along the affected coastline.

“If we put in rock armour it will end up destroying what’s left of the beach, more thought is required here,” she said. “Another three metres has been lost over the course of the winter and it is a very, very serious situation now. There are other measures we could take to preserve the beach, we could put more sand onto it and replenish it; this helps to break the waves earlier, if they break onto the rock armour it will just destroy what’s left of the beach.”

Reminding the OPW that, under the 1963 Coast Protection Act, it is legally obliged to preserve Rosslare Strand, the Fianna Fáil councillor asked that a representative from the organisation present its plans at the April meeting of the RMD.

She was supported by Cllr Aoife Rose O’Brien who said it would be “nonsensical” to sacrifice the long-term future of the beach for one emergency project.