Kerry council and wildlife service accused of neglect of famous beach where there's 'significant' risk to life

Inch Beach is heavily used in summer, with cars, motorhomes, and buses often parked along the drive-on beach and extending back along the main road between Castlemaine and Dingle. The congestion slows passing traffic and is described as creating a significant risk to life. Kerry County Council and the National Park Wildlife Service are accused of neglect and lack of investment. A stakeholder forum was formed two years ago involving the council, NPWS, and the Inch Community Council. A draft plan proposes removing some dunes near the car park and upgrading the bus stop, but land ownership by a local business remains a barrier. A €45,000 spend on the plan is criticized as ineffective.

"On summers day Inch Beach is thronged with cars, motorhomes and buses, which are often parked from along the drive-on beach, all the way back and along the main road between Castlemaine and Dingle. The packed area not only slows passing traffic but creates a 'significant' risk to life, according to Cllr Griffin."

"At a recent Castleisland/Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District meeting, he expressed his disappointment with the lack of improvement to infrastructure. "I don't know if the council has some problem with the people of Inch, because the neglect of Inch Beach is just absolutely unbelievable," he said."

""At this stage the council will have to take responsibility for any risk to live back there, and...the National Park Wildlife Service (NPWS) are just dancing around and refusing to engage with us," he claimed. Two years ago, a stakeholder forum was created, which included Kerry County Council, who lease the current car park, NPWS, who own the entirety of Inch spit and the Inch Community Council."

"The council has produced a draft plan for Inch which prescribes the removal of several dunes around the car park as well as upgrading of the bus stop, but the land is still owned by a local business. At the meeting, Cllr Griffin said the €45,000 that was spent on the plan "might as well be thrown over a cliff"."

Read at Irish Independent