Councillor Patrick Clarke will also discuss the complaints he has received regarding the introduction of National Trust membership to local Dundrum residents and lodge a petition regarding the abolishment of the local residents pass into Murlough Nature Reserve.
Councillor Patrick Clarke stated: “I will be meeting with the National Trust on June 7th to discuss a wide range of matters relating to Murlough Nature Reserve and beach.
“I received numerous complaints about the state of Murlough Nature Reserve and the significant volume of rubbish left by visitors following the aftermath of the good weather.
“As a regular walker of Murlough Nature Reserve I was saddened that families and people who visited left the beautiful beach and nature reserve during the warm hot spell left the area in such a depressing state.
“I will therefore be requesting the National Trust to put in place a specific strategy which will have procedures regarding the cleaning and maintenance of litter at Murlough Nature Reserve during peak tourism times.
“The National Trust are the custodians and guardians of Murlough Nature Reserve and that in itself requires protection to an area of such outstanding natural beauty.
“I fully understand the National Trust are relying on people to remove their litter is a great ideology but in reality this does not happen which was clearly evident at Murlough Nature Reserve.
“Murlough Beach has only won blue flag status so the recent environmental impact that littering has caused angered frequent users of Murlough Nature Reserve.
“I will be setting out in my meeting with the National Trust to increase warning signage and additional litter bins throughout Murlough Nature Reserve.
“The introduction of full National Trust membership of £53 pounds to local residents of Dundrum to Murlough Nature Reserve will also be on my agenda when meeting the National Trust.
“Dundrum residents who have held a residents pass to enter their vehicles into Murlough Nature Reserve at an annual fee of £23 are now being informed that they will be required to take out full National Trust membership at £53.
“This is wholly unacceptable to remove a long standing agreement between Dundrum residents who have used Murlough Nature Reserve to be forced to take out full National Trust membership.
“On a point of principal I would agree with Dundrum residents that the doubling of entrance fees to the car park area from the North point of Murlough without consultation to key fob holders is ridiculous.
“I will be asking the National Trust to therefore not implement the increase car park charges to the Dundrum residents who presently hold the passes to access Murlough Nature reserve from Keel Point.”
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