New laws will help to clean up Mayo's piers
The new by-laws will be extended to 12 other piers and habours, including Killala (pictured). Picture: Liz McCabe
Local authority by-laws, currently in place at three Mayo piers and harbours, could be extended to cover 12 additional locations.
The existing locations are Westport, Newport and Ballina and the proposed additional piers/harbours are Killala, Porturlin, Belmullet, Ballyglass, Blacksod, Porteen, Knockmore, Rosmoney, Roonagh, Clare Island, Inishturk and Kilcummin.
Head of Marine with the council Michael Boylan told a meeting of the Economic Development strategic policy committee (SPC) that these by-laws have helped with maintenance issues at the three piers.
“The maintenance budget is improving every year. It is hard to deal with issues like old boats being abandoned without by-laws but we have now dealt with them in Westport and Newport”, he said. “These by-laws will also allow us to put up or take down signage.”
Farming representative Martin Gilvarry welcomed the news.
“This is a common sense approach. There’s nothing worse than going down to a pier and seeing old boats left there, they are eyesores."
Mr Boylan, in response to a query from Cllr Mark Duffy, said inland piers could not be covered under these by-laws because there is no central authority that has control over the county’s inland piers.
The extension of the by-laws will come before a full council meeting for approval.
