Council clarifies beach ownership question in Mayo

Not all beaches in Mayo are in the ownership of the local authority, it has been revealed.

Presenting a report on beach management and beach bylaws to a meeting of Mayo County Council's Environment and Climate Change Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) last week, the council's Acting Head of Environment Tom McDonnell said the State owns most of the foreshore beaches, which would be land and seabed below the high-water tide mark, on behalf of the public, but adjoining lands are registered to private landowners. He explained that any development along the shore would be subject to planning permission from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). adding that most beaches in Mayo adjoin commonage lands, which can include sandybanks, dune systems, grasslands, and Special Areas of Conservation. These areas often have multiple owners.

Where possible, the council develops public facilities including carparks, toilets, pathways and steps, to ensure access to the beach and also puts in notice boards and bins. In some instances, the council buys land, for example, in Bertra in Westport where a site was purchased to build the carpark there; while for other beaches, motorists park along the public road, and this is done by agreement with landowners.

Mr McDonnell stated: “We are responsible for beach maintenance, water, litter, protection of public amenities, lifeguards, public bylaws, and safety awareness measures. The local authority bylaws give the council a range of regulatory and enforcement powers around the use of beaches and also cover prohibited acts, relating to control of horse, dogs, caravans, camping, temporary structures, filming and photography, permits etc.

“Our role is of stewardship and regulation, and nothing happens without a strong partnership approach form community groups, volunteers and residents. Without all of these stakeholders it would be much more challenging to manage our beaches which are such important natural assets.” 

Paying tribute to local volunteers, community groups and landowners for all the work they do to keep Mayo’s beaches clean and free of litter, Mr McDonnell noted that Mayo has been awarded 11 Blue Flag beaches and nine Clean Coast awards for having exceptional water and environment quality, adding: “The council is very grateful and Mayo is up there with the best in the country.” 

Cllr Peter Flynn said he had always assumed the council owned and was responsible for all of the beaches.

“I also acknowledge therefore the landowners that facilitate access to our beaches, they are amazing amenities. We do know of one beach further west where that access isn’t available and the consequences of that, so we are very grateful to those landowners who allow access.” 

Cllr Flynn queried whether the council indemnifies the landowner in the event that a member of the public has an accident on a beach. Mr McDonnell replied: “The council provide access steps and ramps onto the foreshore public areas, however, if people wander onto private lands they are on private lands.”

• Published as part of the Local Authority Reporting Scheme.