Solution needed for parking 'chaos' at County Derry beach

A long-term plan is needed to deal with problem parking at a popular County Derry beach, a local councillor has said.

Alderman Alan Robinson raised the issue at last week's meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Leisure and Development Committee that the infrastructure needed to be improved.

“We've been the victim of our own success with Benone,” said the Limavady councillor.

“We all want to see tourism booming in this part of the world, but with the numbers that are being attracted to the north coast, our infrastructure struggles to cope on occasion.

“We have seen it last year and even the year before in the height of Covid, but last year was particularly bad, with those pinch points as you come into Benone.

“There were significant tailbacks and chaos trying to access the beach. It was raised with me on two different occasions asking if there are any plans to remedy the problems.”

The DUP representative said residents had raised concerns with him about the ability of emergency vehicles to get in and out of the site.

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The East Derry politician said serving the public had been the 'pleasure' of his life.

“A gentleman who raised it with me last week said that in the event of an emergency down there, Council and DfI might have a problem,” he said.

“I wanted to put it on record here tonight and have something that could be raised and expanded upon. I met with Roads Service maybe 10-12 years ago with the very same problems.”

A Council official said recent work had been carried out at the site after winter storms displaced sand, but that a 'long-term solution' would be required on the parking issue.

“When the Council put on seasonal staff, we discourage the public from parking on the road or double yellow lines,” he said.

“We put stewards on primarily during the summer months when the beach is at its busiest. Our limit is purely advisory in terms of what we can do; we've no enforcement powers on the public road.

“The Coast and Countryside team will continue to liaise with DfI regarding this issue, but the beach approach and entrance does require significant enhancement.

“Our plan is to have a longer-term approach. We do have a project that we're seeking funding for to enhance the access facilities to the beach and to sort out the parking which is a wee bit ad hoc,” he added.

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