COUNCIL officials are to look at how Ards and North Down Borough’s many beaches can be improved after a fact finding trip throughout Northern Ireland.
Officials travelled to beaches in South Down and the north coast recently to see how other local authorities carry out maintenance work and act to tackle coastal erosion.
The trip came after complaints from residents on the Ards peninsula about the condition of some beaches where seaweed was allowed to remain, attracting flies and, in some cases, vermin to the area.
Council officials had argued they are no longer allowed to mechanically clean beaches because of a Stormont directive designed to improve biodiversity on shorelines.
The proposal to visit other beaches had been made by alderman Robert Adair who accompanied the officials and described the visits as ‘a positive fact finding mission’.
“The fact finding mission comes after receiving complaints from residents and tourists regarding the poor upkeep of our beaches, sand dune erosion and access issues to beaches across the borough,” he said.
“The study was worthwhile and opened up opportunities to learn best practice in coastal management by preserving the environment, rebuilding sand dunes, cleaning and maintaining our beaches free from litter while also enhancing access to our beaches for everyone to enjoy.
“I look forward to a report coming forward and delivering progress on maintaining our beaches as well as maintaining our coastal environments,” he said.
