Infrastructure Minister Announces £1.2 Million Funding For Health And Safety Works On The Barmouth Moles

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced £1.2 million in funding to Coleraine Harbour for essential health and safety works at the Barmouth Moles near Castlerock.

The Barmouth, constructed in the 1880s, ensures boats can travel from the sea into the River Bann. Its stone-and-concrete breakwaters, known as the Barmouth Moles, protect the river mouth where it meets the sea.

Concerns about their deteriorating condition were brought to the attention of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council earlier this year, during a deputation in May. At that meeting, Harbour Commissioners warned that without urgent reinforcement, the moles could collapse, leading to flooding in Coleraine, the destruction of precious habitat, and the loss of two of the North Coast’s most iconic beaches.

The rock armour protecting the concrete structures is degrading fast, they said, and if not repaired, millions of tonnes of river water would no longer be confined to a deep channel. Instead, the river mouth would become an unnavigable delta stretching from Portstewart to Castlerock — slowing the flow and leaving upstream areas vulnerable to flooding.

“It’s getting to the point where the work has to be done and it has to be done soon,” Board of Commissioners Chairman Rob Skelly told councillors.

This morning Minister Kimmins said: “The current condition of the Barmouth Moles poses a health and safety risk, which is why I am allocating £1.2 million in funding to ensure that this work is taken forward as a matter of priority. This significant investment will help protect the surrounding environment and reduce the risk of tidal flooding for these communities. This work is also important for the development of the local economy and the future of Coleraine Harbour.”