A popular coastal walking area in Co Down is to be closed to the public for several weeks and the public are being asked to help decide how it happens.
The North Down Coastal Path between the Stricklands Glen and Brompton will be cordoned off to walkers and those hoping to participate in wild swimming at the old pool.
Northern Ireland Water is planning pipelaying and path widening work between the new pumping stations.
The two separate sections of path affected by the work will need to be closed to the public while the work is ongoing for health and safety reasons.
The area is hugely popular with walkers, cyclists and families and wild swimmers who take advantage of the secluded bay at Brompton throughout the year.
A section between Stricklands Glen pumping station and the path to Downshire Road, Bangor West will need to be closed from Monday to Friday for two weeks.
And another section will affect the path from the Downshire Road path to Brompton pumping station.
Two options are currently being considered for this closure, which are detailed below.
And Northern Ireland Water wants to hear from members of the public as to which option is preferrable.
We would like to hear the views of path users as to which option would be preferred.
- Option 1: full closure of path for 5 weeks with no weekend opening of path, or
- Option 2: weekday closure of path for 8 weeks with path reopened to the public between 6pm Friday and 7am Monday.
Option 1 would allow the works to be completed in the shortest possible timeframe.
A spokesperson for NI Water, said: “The work is part of a multi-million pound investment to upgrade the sewerage network in this part of Bangor, NI Water need to lay a pumping main between new wastewater pumping stations currently under construction at Brompton Road and Stricklands Glen.
“Ards and North Down Borough Council was planning to undertake path widening works in this area during 2021 and therefore, in an effort to minimise the overall level of disruption to the public, NI Water’s contractor will undertake both pipelaying and path widening works at the same time along the North Down Coastal Path between Brompton and Stricklands.
“The map shows the two sections of path that will be affected by the work. For health and safety reasons, these sections will need to be closed to the public while the work is ongoing. The section shown in red on the map will be closed Monday to Friday for two weeks and a diversion route will be sign posted.
“With regards to the section of path shown in blue on the map, two options are currently being considered for this closure which are detailed below. We would like to hear the views of path users as to which option would be preferred.”
If you wish to have your say you can click here to deliver your option preference.
