A CONSULTANTS' report on the merits of a multi million pound coastal protection scheme for Bray seafront is to be placed before a meeting of Bray Urban District Council on October 1st.
Both the Department of the Marine and the council agreed that the sea wall could be breached in coming winter gales.
The consultants, Kirk McClure Morton, of Belfast, were asked to examine a protection scheme submitted by the Bray Beachwatch group, after local protests that an earlier plan drawn up by the Department of the Marine, would result in the loss of beach space.
Members of Bray Beachwatch claimed that the use of shingle, to deflect the sea from the wall, would destroy a popular sandy beach area adjacent to the harbour. The Department, however, is unsure that the use of finer, more sandy material in the Beachwatch plan would withstand tidal conditions.
The sea wall, with its mile long promenade, has taken severe batterings from storms in recent years, resulting in flooding of local homes and businesses. All concerned are agreed that should the sea wall be breached in another storm this winter, damage amounting to millions of pounds would be caused.
Confirming that the results of computerised scale model testing are expected to be ready for the October council meeting a spokesman for the Department of the Marine said both plans would have to be costed by the same body, to ensure the most viable plan was utilised. The Department of the Marine plan has been costed at £2.4 million.
The acting town clerk of Bray Urban District Council, Mr Joe Boland, said the test being undertaken would ascertain if the finer material in the Beachwatch plan would withstand tidal conditions, winds and storms. The council would, he said, "be awaiting the outcome of these tests before a decision is made".
Mr Boland added that should both plans be technically feasible they will be costed over the winter months, as it would not be possible to start work before next spring.
Financing for the scheme is to come from a mixture of European grants and national funding. The council has also warned that further delays in the project could see the loss of the Eli grants which make up 75 per cent of the total cost.
Local UDC councillor, Ms Ann Ferris, said the loss of Eli funding would be "a disaster for the town. Nobody knows how long the sea wall will last, as nobody can predict the storms we are going to get this winter."
Ms Ferris said it was likely a combination of both proposals could be used, and she called on all parties to "avoid further delays and ensure that the work is carried out".