Youghal strand ‘unsafe for swimming’

A seaside town has received a serious setback to its tourist season after swimmers were advised not to use its main beach.

Cork County Council has put up signs warning people against bathing on Youghal’s Front Strand, because its water quality is deemed “poor”.

The local authority has been forced to take the action because of an EU directive which insists warning notices are issued if water quality over a four-year period is not up to standard.

The notice will be in place for the entire tourism season up to September 15, although the local authority will continue to monitor water quality in the coming weeks and post results online at splash.epa.ie.

Monitoring will take place every fortnight over the tourist season.

The Front Strand suffers more from pollution than other beaches in the Youghal area. This is primarily because of animal slurry running off the land along the Blackwater river valley during periods of heavy rain.

Human effluent is also running into the sea because the town does not have a proper sewage treatment facility. But one is planned to be operational before the end of 2017.

Youghal-based Cllr Aaron O’Sullivan (FF) said it was disappointing that the Front Stand had been deemed unsafe to swim at.

However, he said Youghal continues to remain open for tourism business because water quality is very good at the adjoining beaches of Redbarn and Claycastle.

“The establishment of the waste water treatment plant should make a significant difference to the water quality at Front Strand. All the pipes for it have been laid down in the town. But work on constructing the treatment plant can’t get under way until the minister for environment signs off on a foreshore licence.

“It’s imperative this is as soon as possible.”