Pushing out the boat for Ballyalla Blue Flag

A working group is literally pushing out the boat to achieve Blue Flag status for the popular bathing and recreational amenity at Ballyalla Lake, on the outskirts of the town.

The group, elected at a recent public meeting, has armed itself with an action plan aimed at securing the prestigious Blue Flag and the creation of an environmental and tourism hub at Ballyalla Lake.

The meeting had offered a wide range of speakers including experts from the National Wildlife Parks Service and focused on the potential and the current level of use of Ballyalla Lake as well as giving an introduction to Blue Flag certification.

Arising from the general discussion, the meeting decided to set up a work group, which will collaborate with other interested parties including local residents and Clare County Council to develop the public lands around Ballyalla lake and pursue Blue Flag status.

The group is also mandated to ensure appropriate protection of the amenity, improve access and use of the lake and to lobby local politicians in the context of the Ennis and Environs Plan review in order to get the planning authority to carry out an Enhanced Habitat Directive’s Assessment (EHDA) of the lake, surrounding lands and the stretch of the River Fergus, north and south of Ennis.

The EHDA screening by the planning authority would then indicate to interested groups the appropriate location and acceptable type of development of recreational amenities on the lake and river.

The newly established Ballyalla Blue Flag Working Group has since elected Councillor Johnny Flynn as chairperson, Ballyalla resident Cillian Griffey as secretary and Carmen Cronin as PRO.

Chairperson Johnny Flynn said he is delighted with the turnout and positivity at the first working group meeting.

“The discussions were very open and involving all present and we agreed to allow people to join us at any stage for future meetings. The core agreement, in addition to the outline of long-term and short-term goals, was that we are going to be ‘more than a talking shop’.

“To prove this, we are all going to roll up our sleeves next Friday evening between 7pm and 9pm for a major clean-up of the area. We are also inviting all the residents and everyone with an interest in Ballyalla Lake to join us at our clean-up,” he emphasised.

The assembly point for volunteers is at the car park at 7pm and refuse bags and pickets will be provided.

The next Ballyalla Working Group meeting following the clean-up will be on Thursday, September 12 at 7.30pm. The aim of that meeting will be to get an in-depth understanding of the requirements for Blue Flag accreditation.

More details on the working group and its progress can be viewed on facebook BallyallaLake or www.ballyalla.webs.com or by contacting Johnny Flynn on jny.flynn@gmail.com or Cillian Griffey on cilliangriffey@gmail.com.