David Hilditch asked the Minister of the Environment for his assessment of the effects on the environment of the coastal erosion at Quarry Cottages, Whitehead, Carrickfergus.    

 Alex Attwood (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

I thank the Member for his question. I know those cottages because I did not live very far from them and I worked in that area. I am also aware of the localised erosion that impacts on the small number of local residents who use the pathway. At this stage, my advice is that there are no significant environmental consequences but I would like to hear more from representatives of the area

I thank the Minister for his answer. The question was tabled to highlight the predicament and, perhaps, frustration of residents where the vital link to the town of Whitehead is now down to around 15 in of a path and in a dangerous state. I was wondering whether the Department could help by maybe at least getting some stakeholders together to try to come to a resolution. I know that it is probably a cross-departmental issue, but since it began with coastal erosion, I was hoping that the Department of the Environment, would take a lead.

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Alex Attwood (Social Democratic and Labour Party)

It would be difficult for me to take a lead on that matter because it does not technically fall to my Department. I will, though, bring it to the attention of other Ministers and Translink in particular. Given that there is a railway line along the Antrim coast from Carrickfergus to Whitehead and beyond, and given the need to maintain that, which is the single biggest asset of the coastline in that area, I will bring the matter to Translink’s attention to make sure that it is aware of the erosion and to determine what remedies, if any, it thinks appropriate.