Angry locals tear down barricades to Ardmore beaches

SUN-SEEKERS are returning to popular beaches near Ardmore after barricades at the centre of a bitter access row were taken down by angry locals.

The ad-hoc barriers had been built across the car parks serving the beaches of Goat Island and Whiting Bay, preventing public access to private property.

This week more than 150 local people turned up to a night time meeting at Goat Island, around the same time the blockades, erected by the owner of the land, were removed.

Waterford County Council said it is now attempting to buy the two contentious car parks although it was not able to meet the asking price on the open market.

Senior council engineer Vincent O’Connor said the council only needs to own the car parks at the centre of the stand off, and will not pay for the adjoining land.

He said: “The owner of the land has been discussing with us for some time about buying the car parks as part of the purchase of a significant land holding between the two beaches.”

Mr O’Connor explained that the value of the land (zoned white land) was too high, so an offer was made for the two car parks but the owner was not prepared to sell them on their own.

“Last weekend they were blocked off to cars and clay was dumped across them but as far as we know that has since been removed by persons unknown.”

A court has already found that a Liverpool-based man is the rightful owner of the car parks but discussions between him and the council about a buyout of his land have stalled. He was unavailable for comment.

The council now hopes to leave the value of the land in the hands of an independent arbitrator. The local authority has begun compulsory purchase order proceedings to this effect.

“All going well on that front, everything should be well sorted in time for the 2007 summer season,” said county engineer John O’Flynn.

Mr Flynn said the general public would then “have the same full access to the beaches that they have had for generations”.

Ardmore resident John King said people are very angry that access to their traditional beach has been rendered impossible because there is nowhere to park or turn a car. He said the beaches would be kept open to the public.

He said: “A lot of people are very annoyed by what has gone on, these beaches have been used by people for years and to have them closed off at this time of year is not acceptable.