Louth council challenged on Blackrock beach concerns: 'Are we digging our heads in the sand by not testing the water?'

Louth County Council is being urged to introduce water quality testing at Priest's Beach in Blackrock due to concerns about possible coastal pollution. The issue was raised at a monthly meeting after recent media reports described poor water quality at the beach. Priest's Beach is not classified as an official bathing area, but people swim there every day. The argument is that the lack of testing prevents the council from responding effectively to public concerns and undermines confidence and safety. The councillor said the council should ensure the water is clean and consider testing to provide reliable local information.

"“I know that we don't test it because technically we don't see it as bathing water, but there are people swimming on Priest's Beach every single day,” she said. She told the meeting that sea swimming has long been a feature of life in Blackrock. “Concerns about the water quality haven't just started because people are swimming in the sea. People have always swam there,” she said."

"“Just because we say it isn't a designated bathing water doesn't mean people aren't swimming there. “Are we not digging our heads in the sand by not testing the water?” she added. The councillor also highlighted the impact of the recent reports, saying that without local testing the authority are unable to respond effectively."

"“It didn't look good that all these news articles are coming out saying the water is rife, that it is terrible. We don't have anything to come back to those people with because we are not testing it,” she said. Cllr McCann argued that the local authority has a responsibility to ensure public safety and confidence in the area. “In my opinion it is our responsibility to ensure the water is clean, and I really think we should look at testing it,” she said."

Read at Irish Independent