Fixing potholed car park at popular Cork beach would cost €200,000

Resurfacing the popular Warren Beach car park at Rosscarbery in West Cork would cost more than €200,000, according to council officials.

The issue was raised in a motion by Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District.

Ms Towse’s motion asked that: “Cork County Council would resurface the carpark at the Warren Beach, Rosscarbery, as soon as possible”.

She said: “The car park at the Warren Beach serves much more than just visitors to this beautiful beach, which is one of the council’s designated bathing waters.

“There are numerous businesses operating here and other amenities that draw crowds, a coffee van, two ice cream trucks, a surf school, yoga classes, a sauna, and a year-round pitch and putt club.

“It’s a very busy spot even in the winter months, popular with dog walkers and people just getting out for a walk on the beach, the cliff walk or indeed along the beautiful estuary to see extensive bird life.”

She added: “I challenge anyone to name a car park that is pot-holier than the Warren car park? There are actually more pot holes than flat areas.

“You’d need a four wheel drive for some patches where the holes are quite deep. Small kids who don’t like to put on shoes after the beach have to be carried through the car park as it’s 90% puddles and sharp stones.”

She concluded: 

“I’m calling on the council to resurface the car park as soon as possible and give this amenity the parking it warrants.”

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Brendan McCarthy, who said the current car park was “not fit for purpose” and was an embarrassment when tourists from other parts of the country saw it.

Padraig Barrett, director of services for roads and transportation said: “The existing surface of the Warren car park at Rosscarbery consists of unbound granular material. This material allows in the main for the natural percolation of water through the surface and into the ground beneath.

“If the surface is to be replaced with an impermeable bituminous bound surface, it would be necessary to install a new drainage system to collect and discharge the water, as the partial drainage system that presently exists would not be suitable.

“The total estimated cost of installing a new drainage system and surfacing the car park is in excess of €200,000. There is currently no funding for this project but the project can be added to the municipal district capital programme for consideration and prioritised by the members in due course.”

It was added in the meantime the council would fill the potholes to make the surface more even.

• This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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