Ballina Town Council undecided on jetty location

Ballina Town Council undecided on jetty location


Ciara Galvin

Ballina Town Council members were divided last week over the relocation of the jetty at Bachelor’s Walk in the town, to a location to Ballina Harbour. A report which received 38 submissions from the public was discussed at the monthly meeting of Ballina Town Council last week.
The report showed that a majority of people favoured the relocation of the jetty. The issue of anti-social behaviour at the current Bachelor’s Walk location was noted and the report showed that no voluntary group in the town offered to run the jetty in conjunction with the town council.
Cllr Willie Nolan (Fianna FΡil) said the jetty would be a ‘greater benefit’ to Ballina Harbour as fisherman would use it.
“It would be suitable for disabled people to embark and disembark and there is a gravitation for young people to hang around at the jetty where it is,” said Cllr Nolan.
The cost of removing the jetty was initially priced at €6,500 but councillors were told research into the cost of the re-location would have to take place.
Fine Gael Cllr Mark Winters told the meeting that were a current business plan being put together that would utilise the jetty for tourism at its current location.
Cllr Winters asked his fellow colleagues, “Do we close off amenities because of anti-social behaviour or do we stand up to it?”
Cllr Josie Egan (Fine Gael) noted that the jetty had belonged to the town for a long time and questioned why it should now be given to The Quay.
Cathaoirleach Johnnie O’Malley raised the issue of the cost of works to the Bachelor’s Walk location if the jetty were to be relocated.
“We’ll have to destroy piles in the river. i’d like to see the pre-jetty cost. We’d have to put things in at the Quay to support it. After all that could you source a jetty to be used at the Quay,” said Cllr O’Malley.
Cllr Gerry Ginty stated he would be more inclined not to move the jetty at present.