Governing body has cited a conflict of interest as their reasoning behind the decision, despite the trail having been listed on their trails database\n<\/p>\n
Further to the proposal to reform the committee at their December monthly meeting, Wicklow county councillors agreed to increase membership of the committee by two members from umbrella bodies, one member from the business community for both Bray and Greystones and an increase in elected members.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, at the following Bray Municipal District monthly meeting, it was agreed by the district councillors that one further elected member from Bray MD would join the committee and a nominee would be sought from the Bray Chamber, Public Participation Network (PPN) \u2013 Environment pillar and the Bray Alliance\/Bray Heads Resident Association.<\/p>\n
Cllr Caroline Winstanley was proposed and subsequently appointed as the extra elected member from Bray to sit on the committee alongside Cllr Erika Doyle.<\/p>\n
Then at the local authority\u2019s January monthly meeting it was agreed by the elected members to add one more \u201clocal interest\u2019 group from each side of the cliff walk to the committee.<\/p>\n
Cllr Joe Behan informed the council of his clear intention to nominate Bray Coast Care for this position at their next district meeting which was to be held the following evening.<\/p>\n
The independent deputy nominated the group because, in his words, \u201cthey are the ones who are going out weekend after weekend since 2007 tidying up Bray Head, picking up litter and doing what they can to make that area as beautiful as it is\u201d.<\/p>\n
He called on his district colleagues to support that proposal, however, despite an impassioned plea he was ultimately overruled. It\u2019s after Cllr Winstanley proposed nominating a representative from Sport Ireland to highlight recreational needs in the area.<\/p>\n
With two nominations on the table, a vote was taken which saw four votes each for Bray Coastcare and a representative from Sport Ireland. As Cathaoirleach, Cllr Doyle cast her deciding vote in favour of Sport Ireland.<\/p>\n
When asked for comment on their nomination, Sport Ireland indicated they had not received any correspondence from any local representatives in Bray about taking a seat at the committee table.<\/p>\n
The statement concluded that \u201cSport Ireland is unable to take any role on a trail management organisation or committee, as it would represent a conflict of interest with our management of the National Trails Register\u201d.<\/p>\n
When queried about the perceived conflict of interest, noting that the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk had been listed on Sport Ireland\u2019s trails map before closing in 2021, Sport Ireland said they would not be commenting further.<\/p>\n
For context, the National Trails Register specifically includes waymarked trails in Ireland. Any community, voluntary, or public organisation may notify Sport Ireland of trail developments for inclusion on the register.<\/p>\n
Benefits of registration include both promotion and access to the Trails Insurance Policy, which provides limited public liability insurance for trail management organisations and private landowners connected with the trail.<\/p>\n
Chairperson of Bray Coast Care Seamus Connor believes the nomination of Sport Ireland to the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk Committee is invalid and should be revoked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t have to beg to be on this committee and I for one will not do this. The last district meeting was so disheartening it sadly crossed my mind on my way home to just disband Bray Coast Care and let the municipal district and Wicklow County Council hire and pay new staff members to regularly clean up Bray Head.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo think that in the 19 years we have been in existence we have received essentially no funding from Bray Municipal District or Wicklow County Council is a little disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Independent councillor Malacha\u00ed Duddy said it was \u201cdumbfounding\u201d to see a local environmental organisation \u201ceffectively gazumped despite of all the work it has done over the years\u201d. A claim Cllr Doyle strongly dismissed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBray Coast Care is a local environmental group whose members were present in the Council Chamber at this meeting, ready to serve and they have been deliberately excluded.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also pointed out the Greystones representation on the committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn contrast, Greystones is represented by its local volunteer group Friends of the Cliff Walk who have expressed a willingness to work with Bray Coast Care on this committee as the two groups already enjoy a good working relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an extraordinary situation that they should be prevented by the Greens and others from working together on this committee.\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Mr Connor says Bray Coast Care intend to continue the work they do, even though they feel \u201churt and betrayed by everything that has occurred over the last number of weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBray Coast Care feel very hurt and let down by the words and actions of Cllr Doyle in particular, especially as she is the Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District. Surely, she has seen our group in the local newspapers and on social media over the last 19 years and knows the voluntary work we do including on the Cliff Walk.\u201d<\/p>\n
This latest twist in the tale comes after officials in Wicklow County Council decided to exclude the media from attending and reporting on proceedings of the Bray Head Management Committee, despite the committee voting that the press should be invited to attend.<\/p>\n
At the committee’s inaugural meeting on January 14 draft terms of reference for its work were discussed. Several amendments were suggested by councillors and community representatives, including Friends of the Cliff Walk.<\/p>\n
One, from independent Bray Cllr Joe Behan, was that the press should be invited to attend, and report on, committee meetings. His proposal was seconded and agreed without objection.<\/p>\n
Members have since been sent the amended draft terms of reference, which include the provision that members of the press will be invited to attend committee meetings.<\/p>\n
However, an accompanying note from the Bray District administrator, Brian Wildes, rules this out, saying journalists will not now be allowed to attend meetings.<\/p>\n
Mr Wildes cites “advice” from a more senior official, identified as the director of corporate services.<\/p>\n
According to the council’s website, that person is Leonora Earls, a member the chief executive, Emer O’Gorman’s, executive team.<\/p>\n
“Please note,” Mr Wildes wrote to committee members, “that further to the proposal that the media be invited to attend at the Management Committee meeting, the matter was referred to the director of corporate service for her advice.<\/p>\n
“I am advised that as this is a committee of the council, protocol determines that the elected members of Wicklow County Council should be informed of developments of the committee before it goes to the media.<\/p>\n
“On that basis, media will not be invited to the meeting as it will result in matters going into the public domain before the members are aware of same.”<\/p>\n
it is not known what this “protocol” is, but it seems likely that questions will be asked at the next meeting of the committee, scheduled for February 5 at 2.30pm in Greystones council offices.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the situation, a spokesman for Friends of the Cliff Walk group said a decision to restrict the press should only be rescinded after further debate and a vote, if at all.<\/p>\n
“Press interest in, and reporting on, the work of the Bray Head committee should be welcomed and encouraged as healthy for local democracy. Neither committee members nor council officials should be afraid of their work, decisions and reasonings behind them being discussed and examined in public.<\/p>\n
“The community wants the Cliff Walk reopened and does not understand, or accept, explanations offered as to why, after five years, the Walk remains closed. The T\u00e1naiste’s taskforce has set St Patrick’s Day as a short-term target date for getting at least some of the Cliff Walk reopened and all minds should be concentrated on that.”<\/p>\n
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