LOCAL politicians are seeking a meeting with officials from Royal County Down Golf Club to discuss cleaning a section of Newcastle beach.
The call for talks was issued at last week’s meeting of Down Council’s Environment Committee when concerns about litter along a section of beach which the golf club is responsible for were discussed.
It was confirmed that the section of beach in front of the Slieve Donard Hotel is leased by the Royal County Down club from the Crown Estate.
Politicians hope their talks with club officials will pave the way for a “service level agreement” which would allow Down Council to clean this part section of beach.
Councillor Carmel O’Boyle said there had been a number of reports about the beach in front of the Slieve Donard not being cleaned and highlighted the need for the local authority to make people aware that it isn’t responsible for that part of the beach.
She said a way forward could be if agreement was reached with the golf club for the local council to clean the section of beach.
Councillor Patrick Clarke, who has raised concerns about the cleanliness of the beach in front of the hotel in the past, welcomed plans to meet with Royal County Down officials.
He said: “The Environment Committee has invited golf club officials to a meeting of Newcastle area councillors to agree a way forward.
“A service level agreement is perhaps the way forward to clean this stretch of beach which has been neglected as it was not Down Council’s responsibility.”