| Wicklow People | 26th January 2006 | Colm Kelpie |
A Local community group has accused Wicklow Council of not doing enough to stop the occurrences of vandalism and destruction plaguing one of the county's premier tourist attractions.
Paul Leahy, chairman of The Brittas Bay Community Development Group, has said that speeding cars, vandalism, and galloping horses are making Brittas Bay a less attractive place for potential visitors, and that people living in the locality have to suffer such behaviour on a continuous basis.
He said local councillors had presented a 'robust account' to county officials of the residents' views on this matter at last week's area meeting, but that the response from the council had been 'negative'.
One of the community group's primary requests was for the Council to introduce a security warden on the beach and on county council monitored car parks to prohibit such anti-social behaviour.
In response to this request, Wicklow County Council's Director of Services, Mr. Michael Nicholson, said at last week's meeting that the appointment of a security warden would cost the council €1500 a week. 'What is the cost of the damage to car parks in any one year by the destruction of life belts and garda time, and the burning to the ground of a bungalow caused by boy racers and campers?' Mr Leahy asked this week.
'How much money did the car parks realise last year in fees? Was some of that not to be earmarked for reinvestment in the parks? A more positive reaction to the funding issue would be to reflect on the revenue saved by the provision of a warden. It might be considerably in excess of the €1500 quoted.'
Mr Leahy said the council's response prompted one to query the effectiveness of such a system.' He said such anti-social behaviour was putting visitors to the area at severe risk, and that councillors would be raising the matter with council officials again at the next local area meeting in February.
At the time of going to press, county council officials were unavailable for comment.
| Wicklow Times | 25th January 2006 | reporter unknown |
Concerned residents from the Brittas Bay Development Group were forced to write to Wicklow County Council to voice their concerns over the anti-social behaviour that is taking place on regular basis on the beach and in the car park.
According to the letter, vandalism and joy riding has become a feature of life in this area, with youths racing on the road from Jack White's pub to the car park most weekends. The barrier at the entrance to the car park has also been broken so that the cars can gain access to it.
The residents' stated that they believe the best solution to these problems is to appoint a full-time warden during the summer season who would clamp down on the anti-social behaviour currently taking place there.
Cllr. Jimmy O'Shaughnessy (Labour) said that after attending a meeting of the development group, he was anxious that some effort would be made to alleviate the worries in the area. "So-called boy-racers have created havoc, and are making road users fearful." he said. "There is a huge amount of vandalism going on."
Cllr. Fachtna Whittle (FF) said that this problem was not confined to Brittas Bay, and that it was happening all over the county. "I don't know if the noise of these cars equates to the power of them," he quipped, "but I certainly hope not. If they do, they should be in formula one.
Side and country roads are He added that ramps being treated like race might be a novelty for tracks" these youths.
He added that ramps might be a novelty for these youths.
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