Surfers’ fears over pier plan

PLANS by Clare County Council for a €6 million pier development could threaten world-class surf breaks at Doolin, according to surfers.
Last month, the council lodged plans for the pier development, adjacent to Doolin Point and the project is designed to exploit Doolin’s status as a gateway to the popular Aran Islands.
However, the West Coast Surf Club, which represents its members who are surfers and live not only in Clare but in many other parts of the country, are fearful that the project could impact adversely on the surfing environment.
“Our members have been surfing the waves at Doolin Point, Doolin Reef and Crab Island for decades. These waves are of an exceptional standard, known not only nationally but also internationally, with hundreds of surfers travelling to take them on.
“We acknowledge the necessity for a pier development and are not opposing a pier development at this time but we do have concerns,” a spokesperson told The Clare Champion.
Those concerns include the current location of the project, the extent and design of the proposed pier which, they claim, is contrary to that agreed in 2002, and the apparent lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment.
They are also critical of the ­absence of any studies of expected impact of the development on the adjacent surfing environment while the health and safety concerns ­regarding the surfers’ access to the waves hasn’t been addressed either.
The club was critical of the council that a submission to both the planning and engineering departments of Clare County Council, seeking responses to specific queries regarding the impact on the waves on June 29 last, hadn’t been acted upon.
“To date, no response or acknowledgement has been received.
“We have repeatedly made representatives available to meet with Clare County Council to review this matter since the initial announcement in April but this has not happened to date,” the spokesperson added.
In documents lodged by consultants for the council, they point out that dredging of the approach channel adjacent to the new pier, to be located 110m to the southwest of the existing pier, will take place over a 38m to 145m area and at varying depths.
The consultants report stated, “The proposed works are to improve berthing facilities for boats and to give improved tidal access. The development will complement the existing smaller pier at Doolin.
“It is an extremely exposed ­coastline and is subject to robust wave action and the area is regularly overtopped during heavy winter storms.
“The new pier will improve the amenity value of the area and will improve access for islanders.”