DUNDRUM’S seawall needs to be urgently repaired to preserve the village’s appeal and the area’s coastline, according to local councillor Patrick Clarke.
Mr. Clarke has urged Down Council to carry out repairs to the wall, which is in council ownership.
He said the seawall, which was built to protect the former railway line running through Dundrum, was a historic feature of the area and an important part of the natural landscape.
However, he said the wall was being damaged by high tides and years of neglect and said he hoped the council would agree to carry out repair work for the benefit of the community.
He also claimed the poor state of the wall was posing a safety hazard to nearby housing developments and community facilities.
“Sympathetic restoration of the wall to its original condition would turn the seawall from a liability to an asset, which could be promoted as a historic physical feature of Dundrum,” he said.
“With global warming and rising tide levels, the deterioration of the seawall is going to escalate and has been particularly noticeable over the past five years.
“The problem is only going to get worse and ultimately more expensive to repair. Restoring the seawall now would better equip the community to adapt to change and safeguard a sustainable economic future.”
Mr. Clarke said he hoped Down Council would make an application for funding to the Big Lottery Fund’s Communities Coastal Fund.
“I am urging Down Council to give serious consideration to either making an application to this fund and thereby be able to carry out repairs to the seawall at Dundrum and to take responsibility for its repair,” he said.
The issue is expected to come before Down Council before the summer.