Attempts to reopen Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk for St Patrick’s Day fail
Sarah Slater
Attempts to have the world-famous Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk open in part for St Patrick’s Day have failed.
The latest meeting of Wicklow County Council’s Cliff Walk Management Committee was abandoned due to not enough members turning up.
St Patrick’s Day was a target date which was supported by Tánaiste Simon Harris’ Task Force of which Wicklow County Council is a member, and Friends of the Cliff Walk.
The Management Committee meeting was to be the fourth since it was reconstituted earlier this year to include community representatives.
The committee, which never met during the life of the previous council when the Cliff Walk was closed for more than five years ago, is determined to put in place whatever measures are necessary to open the iconic pathway.
Landowners along the scenic walk are to be approached by the council in a bid to reopen ahead of a mooted further three-year delay.
The council are to begin discussions with affected landowners in the coming weeks in relation to the proposed rerouting on the Greystones side. A specialist contractor is to carry out detailed investigations of the slopes which are causing safety and risk concerns identified in a report by RPS Consultants.
The 7km long scenic trail with views of the Irish Sea has been closed to tourists and locals due to multiple landslides which have made sections of the route unstable.
The walk is 100ft above sea level and takes in views of Bray Head, Killiney Hill, Dalkey Island, Lambay Island and the Dublin to Rosslare rail line.
The lengthy closure has drawn criticism from locals due to what was initially signalled as a temporary shut down of the walk. In January the council indicated that the route could be closed for another three years meaning it could be eight years before walkers can enjoy the stunning views.
A comprehensive report which examined the possibility of "early reopening of the Cliff Walk by the council (but) advising the public of the risks and the actions they should take themselves to mitigate these risks," a council statement said.
The report also highlighted the benefits of a council protocol for monitoring, inspection and enhanced advice to the public.
As recommended in the report, the council also obtained independent legal advice on this matter. The legal advice stated that a “full assessment of risk has to be carried out” and until the council is satisfied that they are “not permitting an unacceptable safety risk” for users of the Cliff Walk, it “ought to remain closed,” the statement continued.
The council and the committee are to keep this under review and seek updated legal advice as the project progresses.
Tánaiste Simon Harris previously said that he shares the frustration of locals due to the ongoing closure of the walk and is “deeply unhappy” about the matter.
A report released last year showed that the economic impact of the closure is estimated to be costing the national economy €50,000 per day and that locally around €14 million has been lost by businesses.
