A controversial proposal to redevelop part of the south Dublin coastline including the site of the Dún Laoghaire baths has been condemned by An Taisce.
The plans, by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown council, could damage the environment and threaten the existence of wildlife in the area, the heritage group says. Two new concepts designed by consultants on behalf of the council were priced at €129m and €92m when they were unveiled earlier this year.
The more expensive "Concept A" involves a lagoon beach and a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the East Pier. An aquatic play area is intended for the old public baths site, alongside a civic space. It includes an underground car park.
"Concept B" involves a new promenade and sandy beach from the East Pier to the Newtownsmith section. It also includes a new water sports centre in Sandycove Park.
An Taisce noted the area between the East Pier and Sandycove forms part of the Dalkey Coast and Killiney Hill proposed Natural Heritage Area. It is of national conservation interest for both built and ecological heritage, the group says.
"Both Concepts A and B include significant modification and additions to coastal zone and existing artificial structures which will adversely affect the marine environment including the creation of new beaches and the construction of a breakwaters," the submission states.
"These proposals have the potential to result in direct loss of marine habitats and species, disturbance/damage to habitats and species from sedimentation and pollution during construction, and long-term changes to the hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes of the local area."
An Taisce said Concept B, which includes the conversion of the derelict baths complex to a "baths plaza", comprising of new shops and cafes, would "reduce the total recreational/amenity area which could be made available to the general public".
The Save Our Seafront Group, which spearheaded a successful campaign against the redevelopment of the baths three years ago, has now put forward its own more modest and inexpensive proposal for the scheme.
"The SOS proposal would be relatively low in cost and realistic in that it reflects local people's wishes, rather than the flights of fancy of private consultants," said chairman Richard Boyd Barrett.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label baths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baths. Show all posts
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Council urged to shelve plans for derelict baths site
DÚN LAOGHAIRE-Rathdown County Council has been urged to shelve its two proposals for the redevelopment of the derelict public baths site. The call was made at a public meeting attended by 150 people in Dún Laoghaire last night. The meeting also agreed to hold a demonstration next month to highlight the concerns of local people.
In February, consultants presented councillors with two designs for the site along the East Pier to Sandycove.
"Concept A" would cost €129 million and involves a lagoon beach and a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the East Pier. An aquatic play area is intended for the old public baths site, alongside a civic space. It includes an underground car park with up to 500 spaces.
"Concept B" would cost €92 million and involves a new promenade and sandy beach from the East Pier to the Newtownsmith section. It also includes a new water sports centre in Sandycove Park.
Last night's meeting was organised by the Save our Seafront group, which had objected to plans for a high-rise apartment block on the site of the baths.
The meeting heard claims that the council's proposals were excessive, impractical, too expensive and likely to damage the seafront.
The council was urged to shelve those plans and restore the baths as a public swimming pool. Richard Boyd Barrett, who organised the meeting, said the council's plans were over the top.
He said restoring the public swimming pool would cost a fraction of the cost estimated for the two options presented by the council. "Instead of listening to what the public wanted and getting down to delivering on it, they have wasted nearly €200,000 paying consultants to come up with an excessive and vastly expensive plan," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In February, consultants presented councillors with two designs for the site along the East Pier to Sandycove.
"Concept A" would cost €129 million and involves a lagoon beach and a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the East Pier. An aquatic play area is intended for the old public baths site, alongside a civic space. It includes an underground car park with up to 500 spaces.
"Concept B" would cost €92 million and involves a new promenade and sandy beach from the East Pier to the Newtownsmith section. It also includes a new water sports centre in Sandycove Park.
Last night's meeting was organised by the Save our Seafront group, which had objected to plans for a high-rise apartment block on the site of the baths.
The meeting heard claims that the council's proposals were excessive, impractical, too expensive and likely to damage the seafront.
The council was urged to shelve those plans and restore the baths as a public swimming pool. Richard Boyd Barrett, who organised the meeting, said the council's plans were over the top.
He said restoring the public swimming pool would cost a fraction of the cost estimated for the two options presented by the council. "Instead of listening to what the public wanted and getting down to delivering on it, they have wasted nearly €200,000 paying consultants to come up with an excessive and vastly expensive plan," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Leisure plan for Victorian baths site makes a splash
A NEW world class pier and beach lagoon for the old Dun Laoghaire baths site was unveiled yesterday as an alternative to controversial high rise apartments.
The plan was outlined at a special briefing meeting yesterday for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors.
Consultants Royal Haskoning and Murray & Associates made a presentation of the main findings and recommendations in their feasibility study on the East Pier to Sandycove Coastal Amenity Project.
Two different concept schemes were presented to councillors who wanted to examine the feasibility of a major world-class environmental/amenity improvement scheme at the location, which includes the Dun Laoghaire Baths site.
They were required to make provision for the proposed Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) walkway project.
A key recommendation made by the council is that the project should not have any high-rise or residential element, but that it should seek to complement the coastline and offer a modern local tourist attraction in the area.
Any proposed scheme must provide adequate sea defences to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion on the site in order to protect any proposed development
The alternative schemes recommended by the consultants and viewed by councillors yesterday include one featuring:
• A new lagoon in Dun Laoghaire.
• A lagoon beach constructed adjacent to the East Pier with a linking pedestrian bridge.
• An aquatic play area on the old baths site with a civic space and a building with a restaurant, providing for alternative therapies.
• An underground car park with up to 500 spaces.
• New upper and lower walkways along entire sea frontage with plaza and viewing areas.
• The Sutton to Sandycove project along the entire route.
• Limited land reclamation along Newtownsmith to facilitate civic amenities including the 'Festival of World Cultures'.
• A newly landscaped Sandycove Park with water sports buildings.
• Improved facilities for Sandycove Harbour.
The alternative plan includes:
• New promenade and sandy beach over the East Pier to Newtownsmith section.
• Construction of offshore and shore-connected breakwaters approximately 250m off shore.
• An upper and lower walkway, which will provide walks along the frontage and access to the beachfront.
• Accommodation of the S2S project along the entire route.
• An increase in surface car parking at Newtownsmith.
• Limited land reclamation along Newtownsmith to facilitate civic amenities, including the 'Festival of World Cultures'.
• Newly landscaped Sandycove Park with water sports buildings.
Both concepts will be presented to the public next week.
Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The plan was outlined at a special briefing meeting yesterday for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors.
Consultants Royal Haskoning and Murray & Associates made a presentation of the main findings and recommendations in their feasibility study on the East Pier to Sandycove Coastal Amenity Project.
Two different concept schemes were presented to councillors who wanted to examine the feasibility of a major world-class environmental/amenity improvement scheme at the location, which includes the Dun Laoghaire Baths site.
They were required to make provision for the proposed Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) walkway project.
A key recommendation made by the council is that the project should not have any high-rise or residential element, but that it should seek to complement the coastline and offer a modern local tourist attraction in the area.
Any proposed scheme must provide adequate sea defences to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion on the site in order to protect any proposed development
The alternative schemes recommended by the consultants and viewed by councillors yesterday include one featuring:
• A new lagoon in Dun Laoghaire.
• A lagoon beach constructed adjacent to the East Pier with a linking pedestrian bridge.
• An aquatic play area on the old baths site with a civic space and a building with a restaurant, providing for alternative therapies.
• An underground car park with up to 500 spaces.
• New upper and lower walkways along entire sea frontage with plaza and viewing areas.
• The Sutton to Sandycove project along the entire route.
• Limited land reclamation along Newtownsmith to facilitate civic amenities including the 'Festival of World Cultures'.
• A newly landscaped Sandycove Park with water sports buildings.
• Improved facilities for Sandycove Harbour.
The alternative plan includes:
• New promenade and sandy beach over the East Pier to Newtownsmith section.
• Construction of offshore and shore-connected breakwaters approximately 250m off shore.
• An upper and lower walkway, which will provide walks along the frontage and access to the beachfront.
• Accommodation of the S2S project along the entire route.
• An increase in surface car parking at Newtownsmith.
• Limited land reclamation along Newtownsmith to facilitate civic amenities, including the 'Festival of World Cultures'.
• Newly landscaped Sandycove Park with water sports buildings.
Both concepts will be presented to the public next week.
Treacy Hogan
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Plan for Dún Laoghaire baths gets guarded welcome
Proposals to redevelop Dún Laoghaire baths as part of a €129 million scheme to provide new beach and aquatic facilities at Sandycove were given a guarded welcome by local councillors and the campaign group Save Our Seafront.
Save Our Seafront, which in recent years opposed public- private partnership plans to redevelop the baths, said it did not see why the redevelopment scheme for the baths had been linked to a separate plan to establish a Sandycove to Sutton promenade around Dublin Bay, which it said appeared to have inflated the overall costs.
Save Our Seafront spokesman Richard Boyd Barrett said however that the scheme represented a "180 degree turnabout" on previous plans to redevelop the baths with the inclusion of a multi-storey apartment block.
Consultants Royal Haskoning and Murray & Associates yesterday presented councillors with the main findings and recommendations in their feasibility study on the "East Pier to Sandycove coastal amenity project".
Two different concept schemes were drawn up for the purpose of discussion, with agreement that both concepts would be put on public display.
Concept A is known as the "Dún Laoghaire lagoon" and involves a lagoon beach constructed adjacent to the East Pier, with an "aquatic play area" on the old baths site, among other facilities. Concept B would involve the creation of a new artificial beach at Newtownsmith beach and the construction of offshore and shore-connected breakwaters approximately 250m offshore. Both concepts incorporate parts of the Sutton to Sandycove promenade.
Mr Boyd Barrett told The Irish Times that while Save Our Seafront welcomed the public facilities, the group had a number of significant questions about the development and was disappointed not to have been given copies of the plans. He claimed that plans had been deliberately kept from the group to "stage manage the launch".
However, Cllr Jane Dillon Byrne, who chaired the council's baths subcommittee which briefed the consultants, said the proposals were only conceptual and public comment was actively being sought. Ms Dillon Byrne said she had also opposed the previous public-private partnership proposals for the baths as the council had wished to keep the coastal side of the coast road free from development.
The problem with Dún Laoghaire baths had been that they were "in the shade for most of the day, unlike Blackrock baths. But at least the concept put forward now seems to have the swimming areas where they would get direct sunshine". Referring to the baths' dilapidated condition, she said it was clear that something needed to be done.
But she insisted that public access rather than commercial gain would have to be the over-riding criteria and she called for people to make positive suggestions for public use of the site. "Unfortunately, we have people who are usually against everything while being in favour of nothing," she added.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Save Our Seafront, which in recent years opposed public- private partnership plans to redevelop the baths, said it did not see why the redevelopment scheme for the baths had been linked to a separate plan to establish a Sandycove to Sutton promenade around Dublin Bay, which it said appeared to have inflated the overall costs.
Save Our Seafront spokesman Richard Boyd Barrett said however that the scheme represented a "180 degree turnabout" on previous plans to redevelop the baths with the inclusion of a multi-storey apartment block.
Consultants Royal Haskoning and Murray & Associates yesterday presented councillors with the main findings and recommendations in their feasibility study on the "East Pier to Sandycove coastal amenity project".
Two different concept schemes were drawn up for the purpose of discussion, with agreement that both concepts would be put on public display.
Concept A is known as the "Dún Laoghaire lagoon" and involves a lagoon beach constructed adjacent to the East Pier, with an "aquatic play area" on the old baths site, among other facilities. Concept B would involve the creation of a new artificial beach at Newtownsmith beach and the construction of offshore and shore-connected breakwaters approximately 250m offshore. Both concepts incorporate parts of the Sutton to Sandycove promenade.
Mr Boyd Barrett told The Irish Times that while Save Our Seafront welcomed the public facilities, the group had a number of significant questions about the development and was disappointed not to have been given copies of the plans. He claimed that plans had been deliberately kept from the group to "stage manage the launch".
However, Cllr Jane Dillon Byrne, who chaired the council's baths subcommittee which briefed the consultants, said the proposals were only conceptual and public comment was actively being sought. Ms Dillon Byrne said she had also opposed the previous public-private partnership proposals for the baths as the council had wished to keep the coastal side of the coast road free from development.
The problem with Dún Laoghaire baths had been that they were "in the shade for most of the day, unlike Blackrock baths. But at least the concept put forward now seems to have the swimming areas where they would get direct sunshine". Referring to the baths' dilapidated condition, she said it was clear that something needed to be done.
But she insisted that public access rather than commercial gain would have to be the over-riding criteria and she called for people to make positive suggestions for public use of the site. "Unfortunately, we have people who are usually against everything while being in favour of nothing," she added.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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