Rotting seaweed at a popular seafront is causing a stink in Co Antrim, Mid and East Antrim councillors have heard.
Speaking at the council’s neighbourhoods and communities committee on Tuesday, DUP councillor Billy Ashe said Carrickfergus residents have been complaining of the smell coming through the sewers.
Mr Ashe said the smell has also resulted in open water swimmers travelling from Carrick to locations such as Portmuck in Islandmagee instead of a “destination area”, such as Fisherman’s Quay which is “on their doorstep”.
An officer told the meeting the council has “no obligation” regarding seaweed removal as Fisherman’s Quay is “not a designated bathing water”.
Mr Ashe proposed the council should start clearing the seaweed at Carrick seafront to “stop the smell and allow people to start using the water again and go forward with the review rather than ending up with the sea water causing a health hazard and stigmatising the area”.
Alliance councillor Lauren Gray asked if there is any signage to “let people know it is an area that is not 100% okay to swim in and because it is a man-made area, the problem is just going to continue to occur. It is going to be a big effort to keep that cleared.”
The officer replied: “We do not sample it. We do know there is an outfall from NI Water.
“There is a big focus on what happens with our waste water. We do not have a remit to put signage up. Seaweed is an ongoing problem.”