‘CAN anyone name a car park holier than the one at the Warren in Rosscarbery?’ That was the cheeky, but very direct, question posed by Social Democrat Cllr Isobel Towse at Monday’s meeting of the West Cork Municipal District.

In tabling the motion at the public representatives’ monthly meeting, the councillor was, of course, referring to the car park’s lunar-like landscape, full of potholes.

Cllr Towse called on Cork County Council to resurface the car park as soon as possible, but when she was told that a surface water drainage scheme would push costs to more than €200,000, the councillor said short-term improvements, such as filling the potholes, would be a good place to start.

The councillor opened with a list: ‘A coffee van, two ice cream trucks, a surf school, yoga classes, a sauna, and a year-round pitch and putt club.’

These amenities were all listed in addition to the fact that the sandy beach and numerous walking trails make a visit to The Warren something that locals and visitors do all year round, and not just at the height of summer.

‘The car park at The Warren serves much more than just visitors to this beautiful beach. It is a very busy spot even in the winter months with dog walkers, and people heading out along the cliff walk, or visiting the beautiful estuary to see its extensive bird life.’

Cllr Towse suggested the car park has more potholes than flat areas and that a four-wheel drive would be needed to navigate it successfully.

Small children who don’t like to put on shoes after the beach have it sussed too as they require to be carried through a car park that is now 90% puddles and sharp stones.

‘I’m calling on the council to resurface it as soon as possible and give The Warren the kind of car park it deserves,’ she concluded.

Cllr Brendan McCarthy (FG) agreed with the motion. ‘Like lots of our other beautiful amenities this is not used during the summer months alone,’ he stated. ‘As it stands, it is not fit for purpose and has become a source of embarrassment when tourists from other countries visit this premier bathing spot.’

Senior executive engineer, John Ahern, said the issue had been referred to Padraig Barrett, the director of services, roads, transportation and area services, who pointed out that the existing surface of The Warren car park consists of ‘unbound granular material.’

The engineer said this material allows for the natural percolation of water through the surface and into the ground beneath.

If the surface is to be replaced with an impermeable bituminous bound surface, he explained: ‘It would be necessary to install a new drainage system to collect and discharge the water because the partial drainage system that presently exists would not be suitable.’

In his written reply the director of roads estimated the cost of installing a new drainage system​, and then surfacing the car park, could exceed €200,000.

Mr Ahern pointed out that there is currently no funding for this project. But he said it could be added to the Municipal District Capital Programme for consideration and prioritised by the members in due course.