Wicklow County Council has issued an update on the reopening of the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk.
From the Greystones side of the walk, you may be aware that there were two major slippages some years ago, resulting in the collapse of two substantial parts of the work into the sea which cannot be repaired. Also, the areas adjacent to these sections are very unstable.
As a result of the collapse the walk from the Greystones side had to be closed and sturdy barriers were erected on the Greystones side to prevent access. Warning signs were also erected to warn members of the public of the dangers and give notice that they refrain from taking the walk until measures to make it safe could be put in place. In addition, regular messages were placed on social media. Notwithstanding these efforts, some walkers are still accessing the walk from the Greystones side and climbing over the barriers thereby risking their own safety.
A large section of the work further inland will have to be relocated which involves acquiring land from four individual landowners. The Council has been negotiating with the landowners and is making progress. However, land acquisition takes time and there are four sets of solicitors involved as well as the Council’s Law Agent. Lands have been identified, valuations have been carried out and the Council is hopeful of concluding the process by the end of this year as we too are anxious to have the walk re-opened to the public safely.
The current position from the Bray side is that in October 2022, due to a rock fall on the cliff walk it was necessary to close the route. Cundall Ireland Ltd. Consultants were engaged by Wicklow County Council to inspect the site and prepared a detailed report setting out the remedial works which would be required to make the cliff walk safe and usable by walkers. This report was prepared and submitted to Wicklow County Council. The remedial works include the installation of rock bolts and associated rock netting.
The remedial works are specialist in nature which involve detailed specifications to be included in the tender. To this end, Cundall Ltd. was further engaged this summer to prepare the relevant and appropriate contract documentation in advance of going to tender. Cundall Ltd. is currently working on these documents and we have advised that they are nearly complete.
Once the appropriate contract documents are received from Cundall the documentation will be forwarded to Iarnród Éireann for their input and observations and this is expected to happen in the coming weeks. The agreement of Iarnród Éireann will be required for the works to proceed.
Wicklow County Council municipal districts Bray and Wicklow staff will continue with our efforts to move forward with all works and necessary measures to ensure the walk is re-opened safely for all users and acknowledge the huge benefit to the community, businesses and visitors.
Meanwhile, the cliff walk remains open from the Bray side up to the vicinity of the rock fall. Walkers can walk out and back the same way, or loop back over Bray Head and this is still popular with walkers. Wicklow County Council will continue to provide updates on social media platforms to ensure users remain aware that the walk from Bray to Greystones is currently closed for safety reasons.
