Clarity is sought on ownership of Mayo Blue Flag beach
A serene and idyllic view of Bertra Beach which skirts Clew Bay, Westport. Picture: David Farrell Photography
The Blue Flag Bertra Beach near Westport appears to be privately or commonage-owned, meaning that Mayo County Council does not own the much-loved and highly promoted amenity.
The matter was raised by Westport councillor Peter Flynn at a meeting of the council's Environment and Climate Change Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) when he noted: “A lot of good work has been done on Bertra, getting dunes restored, through the Bertra Connected community project, in which Galway University is very involved as well as some students in Mayo. But one of the things that has come to light regarding Bertra, where about thirty years ago Mayo County Council put in concrete post sand wires to protect the dunes, which successive storms have destroyed and just left these posts lying along the dunes with wires exposed, is the issue of ownership.
“When I asked Mayo County Council to deal with these concrete posts, it was suggested to me that perhaps a voluntary group could get involved. Then the big surprise. It appears Bertra Beach is not owned by Mayo County Council, and when I questioned this, I was told to go and check with the land registry.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a team working with me to do this and I am not a solicitor, so I just want clarity. Are our Blue Flag beaches in the control of Mayo County Council or commonage or individual landowners? These are key aspects of our county that we, quite literally, fly the flag for.”
Cllr Flynn added that the byelaws in relation to dogs not being allowed on Blue Flag beaches during the day are being simply flouted or ignored.
“I spoke to the coastguards. They have not a clue about them. Loads of tourists walk the beach with dogs off their leash. If we are putting in byelaws, we should be implementing them. There is no signage even to indicate what the byelaws are for tourists.”
Cllr Flynn told management he was seeking an update in relation to the byelaws, on who owns and controls Bertra Beach, who are the custodians of the beach, and what the council is doing to implement byelaws, adding: “Surely the lifeguards could be issuing warnings to people not familiar with the area as most local people respect them."
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
