CONCERNS are growing over the Shore Road running through Kircubbin because of the deteriorating condition of the village harbour.
The road runs very close to the the shore of Strangford Lough and part of its supporting network in the village has been wall of the harbour which in recent years has begun to collapse.
Local councillor Joe Boye has raised concerns about the infrastructure under the road beside the harbour, and said the integrity of the harbour support should be an immediate priority.
However, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has said as the harbour is privately owned, repairs to the structure fall on the owner to complete. If the structural stability of the road is compromised at the harbour, the department says it ‘would seek to put measures in place to protect road users’.
There are long held fears within the community of Kircubbin that adverse weather impacting the village’s iconic structure may see it falling into the sea resulting in it being lost forever.
These concerns have been voiced loudly during a revitalised campaign to see a massive restoration project delivered soon to save the landmark harbour.
“Residents of Kircubbin would like progress at the harbour, something which has been highlighted for improvement on the village plan,” said Mr Boyle.
“The needs at Kircubbin harbour are significant and very complex and there appears to be limited scope for moving forward or resolving the current concerns,” he added, warning the issues surrounding the harbour and infrastructure would require ‘significant’ funding.
“This is a massive challenge at any time, but more so during the current financial climate with budgetary constraints in the relevant government departments which would be expected to play a part in such a scheme,” said the councillor.
A DfI spokeswoman explained the harbour at Kircubbin is in private ownership and any repairs which would fall within the protected scheduled area of the historic structure were the responsibility of the landowner rather than the Department.
“In the event that the structural stability of the road network would become compromised, the Department will seek to put measures in place to protect road users,” she continued.
“These works would not necessarily involve the historic harbour but may be adjacent to the scheduled area”.
