To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline actions his Department is taking to address the lighting of fires on the beach at Helen’s Bay.

My officials are aware of the ongoing issue of fires on Helen’s Bay beach which is part of Crawfordsburn Country Park. My officials understand that there is presently no specific legislation in place which allows for beach fires to be enforce-ably prohibited. However when park staff are in attendance during the opening hours of the park they engage with the public to advise them that fires are not permitted within the park and they are asked to put them out. Nevertheless very often these fires are being lit in the night time outside of the opening hours of the park when staff are not in attendance. Staff arranged for enhanced signage stating that fires are not permitted in the park, but this will likely have little effect, as with the abundance of signage indicating the prohibition on public alcohol consumption.

More often than not the lighting of these fires goes hand in hand with the public consumption of alcohol and anti-social littering which are also prohibited. The responsibility for the enforcement of these matters rests with the council and PSNI. Where specific incidents of concern arise, site staff continue to report matters to the PSNI and relevant authorities.

There are quite obviously specific issues with the meaningful enforcement of this kind of anti-social behaviour in public spaces across the council area, from public alcohol consumption, to littering to the increase in overnight camping and beach fires. This is a much wider issue that just Helen’s Bay Beach. I would encourage you to engage with the council and PSNI to prioritise this issue and take the matter forward.