Mid and East Antrim councillors block public access to Greenisland’s Jointure Bay

East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson who previously expressed his support for public access to Jointure Bay in Greenisland - an area of shoreline owned by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Mid and East Antrim councillors have voted against permitting public access to Jointure Bay in Greenisland.

Discussions between the borough council and NI Water over pedestrian access to the Shore Road location have been ongoing since 2020.

The council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee was told recently that “council has freehold status of a significant area at Jointure Bay but currently no public access”.

A decision had been postponed in April to allow the council to carry out a consultation with local residents.

Councillors heard that, following discussions, NI Water had indicated an agreement could be reached if the council relocated the existing gates further down the laneway, installed a lockable bollard to allow pedestrian access only, and undertook to maintain the gate, fencing, bollard, and steps to the foreshore.

Aerial view of Jointure Bay on the Antrim coast

The initial cost of establishing “safe pedestrian access” was estimated at around £11,000.

At Tuesday evening’s committee meeting at The Braid in Ballymena, Knockagh Alliance Councillor Aaron Skinner — who is not a committee member but had speaking rights — suggested councillors visit the site.

Cllr Skinner reported that 400 residents had responded to the public consultation, with 90 per cent in favour of opening access. He highlighted that, historically, there had been three access points along the shore. He asked whether the council could mitigate risks through improved signage, handrails, fencing, and even an RNLI text alert service.

“Four hundred residents have come forward. Ninety per cent have said they want it to progress,” he said.

“Make it as safe as possible and get people access to the shore.”

Party colleague Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly added:

“We own a beach so that is an asset. Why would we want to keep a beach inaccessible? It seems strange to keep a beach out of reach of people.”

She proposed a site visit and a meeting with the author of the health and safety report commissioned by the council.

East Antrim Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson at Jointure Bay

However, Knockagh DUP Councillor Marc Collins argued:

“There seems to be a clear majority of residents opposed.”

He raised concerns about parking, accessibility, and the steps, pointing out that the health and safety report had recommended against the proposal.

“If something was to happen, it would be us as councillors who would be liable,” he added.

Ballymena Alliance Councillor Jack Gibson seconded Cllr Donnelly’s proposal, commenting:

“When you dig deeper, the majority living in the immediate vicinity are in favour.”

Cllr Donnelly’s proposal was defeated, with four councillors voting in favour and 11 against.

Ballymena DUP Councillor Reuben Glover then proposed accepting the findings of the report, remarking:

“Nobody wants to put their house up for sale.”

The report concluded:

“From a health and safety perspective, the preferred course of action is not to proceed with developing this access point as the tidal hazards represent a significant ongoing and unmanageable risk to members of the public.”

Supporting the proposal, Ballymena Independent Councillor Lawrie Philpott said the issue should not be “brought back and forward like a game of tennis”.

Coast Road Ulster Unionist Alderman Maureen Morrow also backed the recommendation:

“I think we need to take health and safety into consideration. It is quite a stern warning.

“Two girls have already got stuck out there. Adults can read signs but if you have children out on that beach who have gone down because there is access and they get trapped, whose responsibility is it? It is ours. I am very much in support of Reuben’s recommendation.”

Cllr Donnelly responded:

“Imagine how frightened they were having to climb a fence.”

Ald Glover added:

“I would be glad to see a fence if I was drowning — a bit of dry land.”

The recommendation not to proceed was carried, with 11 councillors voting in favour and four against.

Carrickfergus Castle Alliance Councillor Lauren Gray then asked about the council’s liability following the decision.