Sands of time slip away for cars on Bettystown beach

Bettystown Beach in Co Meath is frequented by as many as 1,000 cars on a sunny day Barry Cronin

The days of “drive-in” sunbathing are coming to an end in the Co Meath town of Bettystown, with plans afoot to stop cars driving onto one of the country’s busiest beaches.

On sunny days, there can be more than 1,000 cars parked on the beach. But Meath County Council is drawing up plans to ban them, over concerns for the safety of children.

The council’s draft beach management plan proposes a new limit ...