Tenders for an improvement project at Malin Head have become the subject of debate after they were put out by Donegal County Council.
Phase two of the Malin Head Access & Amenity Improvement Project involves road widening works, car parking expansions and the building of toilet facilities at the popular tourist spot.
The Wild Atlantic Way branding and the draw of the hugely popular Star Wars filming at Malin Head has brought a surge of tourists to the area recently. A €4m tourism initiative was launched to improve public access to Malin Head in 2015.
Stage two of the improvement works currently out for tender are expected to be completed by May 2017. After this phase, Stage 3 of the project will be put out for public consultation.
Local photographer Rónán McLaughlin has spoken out against the plan, saying that it will lead to the ‘destruction’ of Malin Head, and labelled the project as ‘disgusting’.
McLaughlin said that a toilet block at the top of Tower hill is not an appropriate location. “I don’t understand why people in six months’ time will have the facilities to drive up to the tower, use the toilet, take their selfie and go again,” Ronan told Donegal Daily.
“I believe that facilities should be kept back from the site, where you could provide a self-sustaining centre for car parking, shuttle buses and tour guides and charge people to visit, which is along the lines of the National Trust model.”
“My problem with the tender is that the council, Failte Ireland et al have gone ahead and are doing this without consulting the public. They haven’t called a community meeting to ask locals what they thought.”
“There is room for vehicles to bring people with special needs to the site, but everyone else could walk up to the site.”
Rónán is a well-known photographer of the Aurora Borealis (image above) also known as the northern lights, which is particularly visible from the northern tip of Donegal.
“My other concern is about lighting. If there is a toilet block will the lights be turned off at night? If you’re going to build a public amenity there is going to be public lighting for health and safety.”
“My fear now is if the authorities begin this project it’s going to cause more harm than good and they’ll be trying to fix it in the years to come.”
Ali Farren is a businessman who is part of a local campaign group that campaigns for tourist facilities at Malin Head. He welcomes the tender documents and has noted that this is just the beginning of the development.
“We’ve noticed a massive increase in tourists coming to Malin Head in the last year. I think this is one brilliant step in the right direction but we’re starting a marathon as far as I’m concerned,” Mr Farren told Donegal Daily.
“The tender is for a fairly small project with a small expansion of the car park. I don’t think it not enough for the amount of visitors coming, but it’s a start. The next phase will be most vital – when we will be consulted and will be able to sit down and talk about what needs to be developed not just for Malin but for the whole of Inishowen.”
“Easter is the start of the main tourist season at Malin Head. Phase three is the one that we would be more looking forward to see what can come out of it.”
“We hope to see a positive project for Malin Head that will encompass a tourism project with a cafe, viewing area and most importantly an education centre with something to teach people about the area – mainly about the way life used to be and what’s around our coast.
“We hope that an education centre would create good jobs that are full-time and extend beyond the tourist season. Malin Head is not just a one-trick pony. The views, the geology, fishing industry, weather station and coastal radio are all aspects that people can learn about.”
“We want something that will please the bulk of the people and create jobs to benefit not just us locals, but the whole of Donegal.”
Cllr Martin Mc Dermott has said that there are no intentions to destroy the beauty of the area and this project is designed to attract and keep tourists in the area if their needs are catered to.
The councillor welcomed stage two of the project being out for tender and said the development has been the product of years of work by local representatives.
Stage two of the improvement project centres on the townland of Ardmalin, Ballygorman, Malin. The call for tenders describes the following works: (i) Road widening, drainage improvements and surfacing of the L-5011-1 from its junction with the L1011-3 road for a distance of 600m to the existing lower car park at Malin Head. (ii) Localised road widening adjacent the lower carpark, to accommodate bus parking (iii) Extending existing car park facilities to incorporate additional car parking spaces. (iv) Construction of toilet facilities adjacent the lower carpark, including installation of a wastewater holding tank. (v) Provision of services and utilities via the public road.
Photo by Ronan McLaughlin Photography.
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