Calls to stop 4x4s harming Kerry beaches

Beaches and sand dunes along the Kerry coastline are coming under increasing threat from quad bikes and other vehicles.

Despite being banned by bylaws, growing numbers of vehicles, including some driven by “boy racers”, are now seen on some of the county’s 13 blue flag beaches, it has been claimed.

However, the current tight budgetary situation means fewer resources are available to Kerry County Council to ensure that its beach bylaws are regularly enforced.

The issue was highlighted by Fianna Fáil councillor John Brassil, who is from the north Kerry seaside resort of Ballyheigue.

He called for immediate action to prevent the abuse of sand dunes around the county.

“Quad bikes and 4x4 vehicles are regularly tearing up the dunes and adjoining lands,” he said.

Mr Brassil demanded a more consistent enforcement of bylaws to ensure such fragile areas are protected.

Concerns have been raised in recent years about activities in several dune areas, including Banna, Inch, the Maharees and Rossbeigh.

Nature has already caused extensive damage in Rossbeigh, just off the Ring of Kerry, where a new island has been formed in the dunes, at the tip of a long, narrow peninsula known locally as “the spit”.

Activities at Inch have also attracted Garda attention, with large numbers of motorbikes, cars, quad bikes and other vehicles seen regularly on the beach.

Last year, Kerry retained the coveted blue flag status for its most popular beaches, which are a huge part of the region’s tourism industry and are used by tens of thousands of visitors and local people.

A total of €55,000 has been set aside for the blue flag programme this year.

High standards are required and damage to beach areas could result in the loss of the flag.

A council spokesman, meanwhile, said the authority had responded to complaints in relation to the use of quad bikes and 4x4 vehicles, in contravention of the Kerry County Council Beach Bylaws 2007.

However, while the council’s environment section was aware of the problem, it was not possible to maintain a constant presence at each beach in order to enforce the regulations, because of the costs involved, he pointed out.