Work begins to save sea wall in Killough

Work begins to save sea wall in Killough

2 May 2012 - by David Telford

MAJOR repairs are being carried out to the sea wall at Fisherman’s Row in Killough to prevent it from collapsing.

Part of the wall and a section of the road it supports fell into the sea a number of years ago and the ongoing work is designed to prevent a repeat of this.

The arrival of a team of workers to carry out repairs to holes which have appeared on the seaward side of the wall had been welcomed by residents and local councillor Cadogan Enright.

Describing the response of the Roads Service to concerns raised with them after the holes appeared as “rapid,” councillor Enright explained the construction of the Seaview and Westpoint housing developments has led to increasing pressure on the road at Fishermen’s Row. He said the road was never designed to cope with the volume of traffic currently using it.

Mr. Paul Maynes, chairman of the Fisherman’s Row Residents’ Committee, said people are delighted their concerns have been taken seriously.

“While the ongoing repairs are a great relief to us all, it does not take away from the long-term need to provide adequate access to the Seaview estate past the old mill development.

“This will both resolve the problem at Fisherman’s Row as well as creating much better integration of the new estates into Killough. Local residents have been campaigning for 12 years to have something done about this,” added Mr. Maynes.

Councillor Enright said meetings have taken place with a Housing Association interested in the Old Mill development to see if it can be persuaded to develop an area adjacent to the homes as an open space. He said a petition of support for this with over 200 signatures has been handed over to the Housing Association.

The local councillor also suggested the addition of a footpath around the base of the sea wall would make the latest shoring-up exercise more effective. Councillor Enright said the work at the sea wall is expected to take another two weeks to complete.

He added: “I would like to thank Down Council chairman Dermot Curran for his assistance in this matter. It was especially useful that he was able to support meetings I had organised with local people, the Roads Service and the Housing Association.”