Action taken to stop cars from entering a car-free section of Trá Bán in Downings

Action is being taken to stop cars from entering a car-free section of Trá Bán in Downings after bollards sank into the sand.

Donegal County Council confirmed the measures after Cllr Declan Meehan raised concerns about cars accessing the zone used only by bathers and walkers.

“There is an ongoing issue with vehicle access to the beach," Cllr Meehan told a meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District. "This is necessary for the beach to be used for watersports, but there were traditional bollards and good signage to delineate the left-hand side of the beach,” Cllr Meehan said. “Inevitably, signage has worn away, been removed or possibly blown away."

He added that the bollards have also sunk into the sand.

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Cllr Meehan said the issue was evident over the May bank holiday weekend, when visitors who may have been new to the area brought cars onto a part of the beach where vehicles are not meant to go.

A response from Donegal County Council said it will review and assess the current situation and ensure that all safety markers, along with appropriate car-free signage, are reinstated in advance of the upcoming bathing season.

Cllr Meehan welcomed the response, saying beachgoers would be happy with the commitment.

“We are basically in the bathing season now, so time is of the essence,” he said.