Wicklow Sinn Fein TD John Brady has welcomed confirmation that progress on the environmental project at the site of the old dump in Bray, which was used by Wicklow County Council up until the 1960s, to prevent the old landfill site at the North Beach from being washed into the sea is nearing completion. The €2 million coastal project, came about as a result of a 17-year campaign for Brady, was a critical environmental intervention.
The success of which now offers the opportunity to open the site for recreational and public amenities. Brady stated that he believed that the site could be suitable to develop as part of a coastal walkway running all the way from Dun Laoghaire in South County Dublin to Bray, which can link up with the old Bray to Greystones walk once it reopens, which in turn can link with the Greystones to Wicklow coastal Walk. The Bray TD who also made the argument that the site offers additional potential for the site of a water borne centre of excellence, called for a public consultation around the next phase of developing the area as a public amenity.
Brady said:
“The success of the project to address what was an environmental catastrophe at North Beach Bray, which represents the latest milestone in what has become a 17-year campaign to prevent refuse from being washed into the sea at the old landfill site.
Our campaign goes back 17 years at this stage, during which time we battled with successive governments over the need to address what was an environmental catastrophe.
It was estimated that there was 104,000 cubic metres of waste at the site including asbestos, excessive levels of ammoniacal nitrogen, potassium, and manganese. Tonnes of which were being washed into the sea during storms over the years.
I also want to congratulate the Engineers and workers of Wicklow and Dun Laoghaire and Rathdown for seeing through this project over the last number of years.
The project involved the placing of armour stone revetments at the toe of the cliff at the landfill site, and the stabilisation of the cliff face above, by regrading the area to a long-term stable slope.
This will prevent contaminated material from reaching the foreshore.
The project, which is planned to be completed this month, presents an opportunity to reopen the area as a public amenity that can be enjoyed by everyone.
I believe that it is important that the site is transformed into a public amenity, and that the public should have their say in how this is developed.
I am proposing that the area could be developed into a walkway which could provide a linkup between Dun Laoghaire and Bray. This could form part of the existing Bray to Greystones coastal walk when it is reopened. Which in turn could be joined with a new coastal walkway from Greystones to Wicklow Town.
The creation of an uninterrupted walkway between Dun Laoghaire and Wicklow Town through Bray and Greystones would be a remarkable achievement. All the more remarkable as it would stand as a testament of how determination and community focus can transform what was an environmental disaster into something positive for our community.
I also strongly believe that the area around the North Beach has the potential to be turned into a hub for water borne activities in North Wicklow. Offering opportunities to create jobs and provide a major tourist attraction to the area.
Wicklow County Council should begin a process of public consultation to help determine the best fit for the site as a major public amenity