Co Wexford harbour gets approval to carry out major slipway works

In December Fethard Harbour was one of the major beneficiaries in Co Wexford of the latest round of Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund allocations through the Department of Agriculture.

The Fethard Harbour project will receive Government funding of €522,000, an increase on the €255,000 sum allocated towards the project earlier last year. This investment will support the local RNLI and Coastguard units in maintaining safe access to the slipway.

Dating to the 18th century, the harbour comprises two piers. It serves a small, local fishing fleet, lifeboat service and leisure craft and will be the vase for the Helen Blake boat tours to close to the Keeragh Islands.

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Potting for lobster and crab is the main fishing activity carried out at the harbour which is known to dry up completely during low spring tides. The existing slipway terminates shortly before the high water mark on the adjacent seashore. The project site lies within the Hook Head Special Area of Conservation, as well as the protected Bannow Bay area.

Wexford County Council applied to build a new, reinforced concrete slipway and new reinforced concrete beach access to the top of the beach at Fethard Harbour.

The works to be carried out include constructing a new deck and slipway to the east of the existing harbour, associated reinforcement of concrete retaining walls, building a concrete reflective wave wall, access ramp and steps to the beach area, along with excavation, dredging and rock armour works.

Concerns were raised during the planning process by naturalist Jim Hurley of SWC Promotions about the width of the slipway (10m). The planning inspector concluded that as the existing slipway runs to between 6m and 7m and given the fact that the new structure would be low rise and set back from the existing harbour walls, that the character and setting of the protected harbour structure would not be adversely affected.

Planning inspectors approved the works subject to a number of conditions being met.

In approving the works, An Bord Pleanala said they would not have a negative effect on the environment or the community, would not give rise to pollution and would not be detrimental to the visual or landscape amenities of the area.

Also that the works would not have an adverse impact on the cultural, archaeological and built heritage of the area and would not interfere with the existing land use.

“The proposed development would therefore be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and it would not give rise to likely effects in the environment.”

The conditions set out for Wexford County Council to meet before, during and after the works include the drafting of a Construction Environmental Management Plan incorporating all mitigation measures indicated in the Natura Impact Statement and a demonstration of proposals to adhere to best practice and protocols.

A pre-construction survey of grey seals by a marine ecologist is also required. Construction noise ‘should be gradually ramped up’ and a marine observer must be appointed.

All works must be carried out during low tide.

A pre construction otter survey must be completed and any destruction of otter holts or relocation of otter species will be carried out by a suitably qualified ecologist under a Derogation Licence granted by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

A pre construction bat survey is also required and any destruction of bat roosting sites or relocation of bat species must also be carried out by a suitably qualified ecologist under a Derogation Licence granted by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

Any area damaged by machinery or equipment will have to be fully reinstated and a suitably qualified ecologist must be retained by Wexford County Council to oversee the site set up and construction works. An ecological report is required once all works are completed and an archaeological finds must be preserved, recorded, protected and removed from the harbour site.