There has been a new twist in a long running dispute over public access to a Co Mayo beach, with the erection of a new fence to prevent local parking.
Uggool beach, near Louis burgh, has been at the centre of controversy over access since 1989 when a local landowner erected fences over land he farms, causing members of Keep Ireland Open (KIO) to protest.
KIO members claim that the fences block access to Uggool beach. Another fence has now been erected which prevents cars from parking in a beach adjacent to Uggool.
"We want Mayo County Council to remove this fence immediately," said Mr Michael Murphy of KIO. It lodged a formal complaint with the Ombudsman, who contacted the council.
Correspondence between the council and the Office of the Ombudsman, acquired under the Freedom of Information Act, states that the council "has decided to acquire access [to Uggool beach] for the public by means of a Compulsory Purchase Order".
A letter, dated September 21st, 1999, from Mr Tom Morgan, an investigator at the Office of the Ombudsman, welcomes the council's decision "to proceed by way of compulsory purchase or the establishment of a public right of way".
A spokesperson for the council confirmed that a CPO was "being examined". The spokesperson also said that maps showing the area concerned and the proposed access, which will be the subject of the CPO, have not yet been completed.
Mr Murphy said the erection of the new fence represents an "escalation" of the dispute because "there is now no access to Uggool or the adjoining beach".
Speaking on the council's plans to obtain a CPO, Mr Murphy said: "A CPO takes forever and can be dragged out for ages. The first thing that needs to be done is to remove the fences."
The owner of the land in the area, Mr Gerard Burke, declined to comment.
A local farmer said Mr Burke was perfectly entitled to fence off his land.
"The remains of the old concrete posts from the time of the Congested District Board are still in place and the new fence is in this area," he said.