Letters: Ban cars from Inch beach
Wednesday August 05 2009
Sir, The Gem of the Emerald Isle is being tarnished. The gem referred to her is Inch Beach. I am appalled by the misuse of this lovely stretch of our coastline by vehicles which are driven indiscriminately from one end to the other, seemingly for amusement. With the number of vehicles driving along the beach you would be forgiven if you mistook it for a road!
Inch Beach is pointed out as a special attraction by tourist guides, yet we disregard its beauty and destroy this very delicate eco system and its marine life. Once a beach is polluted and damaged it takes time and money to restore it. Do we need to wait until that happens? Can we rather do something before it is too late and, as responsible citizens who are for the environment and our lovely country, protect Inch from further damage?
The loss of biodiversity on planet Earth is a more serious problem than the global economic crises, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
It is further urged, where possible, to use public transport to get to your destination and where this is not practical, to car share in order to reduce carbon emissions. Why then are these drivers on Inch allowed to continue with their selfish and irresponsible acts? I would like to see Inch Beach free of all vehicles so that it can be protected and enjoyed by people who treat it with respect.
As the conservationists say 'Leave only footprints' – this should be applied to this beautiful area and any trespassers should be dealt with accordingly.
Sincerely, Maureen Hall, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
