Survey planned for disappearing Ballyhornan cliff

Survey planned for disappearing Ballyhornan cliff

4 September 2013

A DETAILED examination is to be carried out of a cliff face at Ballyhornan beach which is falling into the sea.

The work is to be carried out by experts on behalf of the Department of Environment and comes after concerned residents and politicians demanded urgent action following a number of recent landslides.

Several sections of the cliff at the Killard Road have collapsed and concern is mounting that if something isn’t done soon, what is one of the district’s most picturesque coastal routes will have to be closed.

Councillor Dermot Curran raised the need for the landslides to be addressed with several Stormont ministers, including Danny Kennedy, the man in charge of the Department for Regional Development.

Mr. Kennedy said his department “shares local concern” about the landslides at the cliff face and intends to carry out a survey which will focus on the top of the cliff and the Killard Road.

In a letter to Councillor Curran, Mr. Kennedy explained that due to the presence of nesting birds, the survey will not take place until the autumn. The Minister said the data collected from the planned survey and future examinations will be used to monitor the rate of coastal erosion on an ongoing basis.

Mr. Kennedy said his officials have assured him at this stage that at present the Killard Road is not showing any signs of distress or abnormal movement in the vicinity of the cliff.

His letter adds: “It is the view of my officials that there is no imminent risk of the road collapsing onto the beach.”

Councillor Curran welcomed news of the survey and said many people are concerned that the landslides have the potential to undermine the entire structure of the cliff face and result in the main road disappearing into the sea.

He said while coastal erosion at this part of the Lecale coastline is nothing new, there is a need to address what’s happening to prevent more sections of the cliff tumbling onto the foreshore.

Councillor Curran described Killard Road as one of the district’s most popular tourist routes.

He continued: “The Killard Road is also an important one for local people, especially farmers and it’s essential something is done to shore up the cliff face.

“Local people estimate around 10 feet of cliff have disappeared over the past past four decades and the recent hard winter moved tonnes of sand away from its base, further compounding erosion concerns.”

He added: “Another major storm could further weaken the cliff and potentially lead to more landslides.”