Council issue 62 fines in lakeshore bylaw crackdown

Fines issued to those abusing the facilities at lakeshores around Westmeath went up almost fourfold this summer, as Westmeath County Council followed through on commitments to clamp down on behaviour such as illegal camping, bonfires and dog fouling.

Senior official Mary Goldsberry, giving members of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad an update at their October meeting on the operation of the lakeshores summer strategy, revealed that while 17 fines were issued within the district in 2025, the number issued this year was 62. Fines have also increased from €150 to €250.

“This year, the district wardens monitored the lakeshores from May to September, basically to ensure the by-laws were being adhered to and that the natural beauty was preserved,” Ms Goldsberry said, adding that the district wardens and the district operational team had worked in collaboration with An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

As well as increased monitoring, additional signage had been erected setting out the rules, and the bins there were emptied on a daily basis. A no-tolerance policy towards litter was in place.

Happily, the public were largely receptive to the approach taken: “Despite the increase in enforcement activity, the vast majority of visitors were cooperative and complied with the guidance provided by the district wardens,” Ms Goldsberry said.

She added that plans are being advanced to provide changing facilities at Lough Lene and to refurbish the toilets. Also in the pipeline are plans to upgrade the access points to Donore Woodland Walk and the recreation facilities at Lough Derravaragh.

Cllr David Jones said there is an ongoing problem at Lough Lene: cars are parking on both sides of the access road, meaning the actual car park often has plenty of empty spaces, but vehicles cannot get into it because of parking on the road.

“It just makes no sense at all,” he said, suggesting that bollards are needed to prevent cars parking on the road, and double yellow lines along the main road to stop people parking on the footpath there.

Backing for the points made by Cllr Jones came from Cllr Alfie Devine, who felt there was a need to widen the access road and to look at measures to prevent motorists from parking on the main road footpath.

Cllr Aoife Davitt asked that the district explore the possibility of installing toilets in a currently disused building at Ladestown (Lough Ennell). She also encouraged the engagement of lifeguards and asked if there were any lessons from this year’s experience.

Cllr Ken Glynn was pleased at how the season had gone and described recent works undertaken by the owners of the caravan park at Tudenham as “fantastic”.

“It’s a great tourist destination,” he commented.

He was critical of the fact that reeds are closing in on some of the areas formerly much used by swimmers. He suggested that areas be designated for swimming and that lifeguards be employed.

Cllr Emily Wallace was also pleased at the progress that has been made, and said testament to that was the number of people she had met over the summer who were heading to the lake “for the day”.

She felt it was important to build on the achievements and not to “stagnate” – to analyse what further facilities were needed.

The view of Cllr Julie McCourt was that, since it was 14 years since the by-laws had last been updated, it was time for a review. This point was seconded by the mayor, Cllr Niall Gaffney, who was glad to note that while the number of fines had gone up, in general there were high levels of compliance.

PARKING

Responding to the points raised, Ms Goldsberry said that it was parking that had given rise to most of the fines, and the district will be looking at ways to improve that issue at Lough Lene.

She confirmed that council management are interested in considering the employment of lifeguards, agreed that a review of the by-laws would be worthwhile, and that there was also merit in the suggestion of designated bathing areas.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly also supported the idea of reviewing the by-laws. Because of requests the council has been receiving from people wishing to open saunas or sell things at the lakeshores, she suggested that the casual trading by-laws also be reviewed. Those tasks could, she said, be undertaken in the first quarter of 2027.

Supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme