The Galway City Council is being urged to expedite works required to protect the areas of Knocknagoneen Hill and Silver Strand beach from relentless erosion.
City west and Knocknacarra councillor Donal Lyons has made further urgent representations to director of services Kevin Swift to progress the protection works as a matter of urgency.
“I have been campaigning for some time for the need to have protection works carried out at Knocknagoneen Hill. The hill is being eroded away due to the harsh Atlantic gales which pound the coastline and are causing erosion on an annual basis. Seven years ago consultants reported that the whole of the Silver Strand Beach area was at risk and could be totally eroded in the next 15 to 20 years if the necessary remedial works are not undertaken. They recommended a course of protection works which would halt the current erosion and protect the area for future generations of Galwegians. The works would also include the continuation of the walkway from Knocknacarra to Silver Strand which has been an objective of the present Galway City Development Plan.
“I have been keeping a watching brief on this important local amenity and have been to the forefront in obtaining Galway City Council agreement on giving the green light for the proposed works. Further erosion has taken place at Silver Strand over Christmas when about 40 to 50 ton of the side of Knocknagoneen Hill collapsed down the cliff face and on to the shore to the side of Silver Strand beach. This is a very serious development for the ongoing protection of Silver Strand and its environs.
“I am disappointed at the slow progress in obtaining the necessary foreshore licences required in order to progress the works. These measures in my opinion are taking far too long, and there is now an urgent need to expedite these works and give the area the protection it needs from the Atlantic waves. Also, I am very concerned that Galway City Council will not have the financial resources locally to fund these works and I am requesting the council to seek government funding to undertake these necessary protection works. Now is the time to act so that this wonderful local amenity area can be protected into the future.”
