Locals frustrated by overcrowded beaches 

OVERCROWDED beaches are causing concern as hundreds throng to the coast to enjoy the sunny weather causing traffic jams, parking problems and issues of litter.

Fianna Fāil Councillor Audrey Buckley, who lives in the Crosshaven area, said it is the same problem every year and local residents are sick of being prisoners in their own homes in the sunny weather.

“Every summer we seem to be talking about the same thing, it is very frustrating.” Mrs Buckley said that the guards have to be called to Church bay over the weekend as a resident’s driveway was blocked off and they couldn’t get through.

“It’s not that we don’t want people to come here, we need people for the economy and local businesses. It’s just that systems and procedures need to be put in place “In other countries, the council rent fields for the summer months, for parking - Wouldn’t that be amazing?” Mrs Buckley said she didn’t think Cork County Council had been proactive enough in relation to the increase in staycations this summer.

“We are busy every summer, but they knew this was coming, this whole staycation thing and there is no proper procedures, lines, cones, traffic wardens, have they put things in place?

What have Cork County Council done?” Mrs Buckley said that she along with fellow Fianna Fāil councillor Seamus McGrath were looking at introducing bye-laws through the council whereby Gardai can issue on the spot fines to people for anti-social behaviour for littering, drinking and illegal camping, similar to bye-laws introduced in Monaghan.

“The problem with fining, especially underage kids, is it's a long process. We don’t want tickets being handed out willy nilly, but if it is at the guard’s discretion, and there is a pattern, give the kids a fine, because there is no enforcement, sure why wouldn’t they do it? they are kids for god’s sake.” The Fianna Fāil Councillor said the parking needed to be tackled.

“People have to stop dumping their cars where an ambulance and emergency vehicle may need to get in. People need to think, it could be their own child or themselves that needs to be saved.”