Wicklow County Council has warned that sections of the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk are in imminent danger of collapse and have once again urged the public not to use the popular walking route.
A meeting of the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk Management Committee has been told by RPS Consultants that there have been further landslides and regression on the Greystones side of the walk and that these pose a significant safety risks for those who continue to use the path.
This month marks five years since the 7km long cliff walk, which has spectacular views of Ireland's east coast, was closed by the council in February 2021 due to safety concerns after a number of landslides made parts of the route unstable.
Barriers have been erected to prevent access but some have been removed or climbed over by walkers to continue using the route.
Local people and businesses have expressed frustration at the length of time the much loved amenity has been out of bounds, while businesses say they have suffered losses due to the closure of the popular tourist route.
Consultants told the council that the areas where landslides have been reported have the highest risk of failure and that cracks developing in the pathway show that this is in imminent danger of collapse and a significant safety concern.
Wicklow County Council has said that recent legal advice it received gives it no option but to prohibit access and to keep the walk closed on public safety grounds.
It said that it is currently undergoing a procurement process for contractors to carry out detailed investigations of the slopes on the Bray side of the slope and this work will be subject to environmental considerations.
It has also begun discussion with affected landowners about a proposed rerouting of the walk on the Greystones side.
At a meeting yesterday, the Cliff Walk Management Committee discussed alternative interim engineering solutions to try and expedite the delivery of this project, which the consultants agreed to assess.
Chairperson of the committee, Councillor Erika Doyle urged people not to use the walk as its condition continues to deteriorate.
"Assessment continues on the Bray side and specialists will carry out detailed inspections of the cliffs using rope equipment in the coming weeks," she said.
"While I understand the frustration from the people who miss the walk, I want to reassure the public that the necessary work is taking place behind the scenes to get us to the next stage of this challenging project.
"The Cliff Walk is unsafe and becoming more unsafe by the day. I urge people to take note of the safety advice and not access the walk at this time."
In a statement, Wicklow County Council said it remains committed to progressing with the project in a "diligent, safe and environmentally sound manner and in the shortest possible timeframe.
"The Cliff Walk remains closed due to the significant safety concerns. An alternative route is available."
