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Eroding dunes lead to flooding fears

Monday, 24 March 2008

A WORLD-RENOWNED artist believes that homes are in serious danger of being flooded if measures are not taken to shore up eroding sand dunes on his local beach.
Jim Fitzpatrick, from Burrow Road, Sutton, best known for his iconic 1968 painting of Che Guevara, claimed the gradual erosion of the dunes on nearby Burrow Beach has left houses exposed to the danger of rising tides.
Mr Fitzpatrick, who has lived on Burrow Road for the past 23 years, accused Fingal County Council of a lack of action on the issue, which he said could cause major problems for nearby homeowners.
However, Fingal County Council has stated that Burrow Beach is listed as a priority in its coastal protection plans.
A spokeswoman for the council said it has applied to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding in the region of e4.8 million for a range of coastal protection measures to be carried out along the Fingal coast.

Speaking to Northside People, Jim Fitzpatrick said he was calling on the council to take urgent measures along a stretch of dunes on Burrow Beach that have been badly eroded over the past five years.
“A huge portion of the dunes along this area of the beach have gone in recent years and it is a major worry, particularly at this time of year when flooding can be most common,” Mr Fitzpatrick stated.
“So much of the dunes have gone now that the tide will be heading for my back wall very soon, but it wouldn’t take much effort from the council to protect the houses from this.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said there were tonnes of loose stones along the beach that could be built up as a barrier.
“There is at least 20 yards of that beach which could be covered with stones very easily,” he argued.
“All it would take is three days’ work at most with a digger on the beach.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said the erosion of the sand dunes was not just an issue that affected homeowners along the beach.
“I am not some elitist homeowner who is just trying to protect my own property,” he declared.
“This beach is common property for all to use and half of Dublin can descend on here in the summertime.
“All I am looking for is for the council to take responsibility for this and ensure that the dunes are better protected.”
Fingal County Council’s spokeswoman said the Dublin Coastal Flood Protection study identified a number of high risk flooding locations, five of which, including Burrow Beach, are on a priority list for Fingal.
“Our Environment Department has also commissioned a coastal study that identified the works that need to be carried out on the Burrow Beach to prevent further coastal erosion,” the spokeswoman stated.
“Once funding is allocated we can move to the detailed design stage with a view to starting coastal protection works as soon as the design stage is completed.”

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