5. Access and Parking
5.1 Beach Access
Seaview Terrace is the primary access point onto the beach for both vehicles and pedestrians. Figure 5.1 illustrates the location of Seaview Terrace. Figure 5.2 shows a ground level view of the beach access.
Figure 5.1: Existing Beach Access in Context of Bettystown (© Google Streetview)
Figure 5.2: Existing Beach Access at Seaview Terrace
The current beach access is constrained in terms of space with a limited cross section existing between the property boundaries on Seaview Terrace. The existing width (including footpaths) varies from approximately 7m at its narrowest point to around 8.5m at the widest point approaching the beach.
A second entrance is provided further south at Delaney’s, which has been opened during very busy periods. This is usually controlled by the Gardai. This entrance is closed the rest of the year, other than when opened by the Gardai.
The buildings on Seaview Terrace have been purchased by Meath County Council. The acquisition of these buildings offers the potential to significantly improve the existing beach access. The council are in the process (as of 23rd April 2018), of inviting architects to provide designs for a purpose built seafront building, either by using the existing buildings or a new building to provide for a purpose built seafront building that could offer a range of amenities for beach users.
5.2 Beach Parking
The MCC Foreshore Bye-Laws (2010) allows parking within a designated area on the beach. At present this permits vehicles to access and park on the beach all year round in the area between River Nanny in Laytown to a point 150m north of the Seaview Terrance in Bettystown. The majority of motorists currently park within a 150m long area to the north of Seaview Terrace entrance. North of this point is a lifeguard area and also a zone that is safer for younger children to play due to the restrictions on car parking.
Figure 5.3: Existing Parking on Bettystown Beach
5.3 Parking Management
For the majority of the year the number of vehicles parking on the beach is low. On a typical, dry, warm, summers day there may be up to several hundred vehicles parked on the beach. During periods of exceptionally warm weather however, there may be a demand of over a thousand vehicles on the beach.
The primary issue associated with these times of exceptionally high parking demand is the safety of beach users, children in particular, interacting with vehicles on the beach. Traffic congestion in the town was also flagged as a significant issue when the beach is this busy.
The Beach Wardens manage the traffic on the beach while they are on duty, using cones to direct traffic as in shown in Figure 5.4 below. There is not a set area for parking, and it is generally it is up to the vehicle owner to park where they think is suitable. During busy periods Beach Wardens are stationed at the entrance to beach to keep traffic moving. This is to ensure that the entrance to the beach is kept clear.
Figure 5.4: Bettystown Access with cones set out by the Beach Wardens
The entrance to the car park has been closed previously when MCC/Gardai have considered the beach to be at capacity. Motorists have been sent away from the entrance to the beach.
Please refer to Recommendation 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 in Appendix A for proposed parking measures.