Council's €20m baths plan

A €20 MILLION plan to develop public baths in south Dublin was unveiled to councillors yesterday.

The latest plan for Dún Laoghaire Baths outlined to councillors by officials of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council included the conservation of the existing Edwardian pavilion and facade, and the construction of a breakwater.

It also included a plan to build a walkway linking Scotsman’s Bay and the east pier, a cafe, terraces and a spa facility.

The baths complex, close to the east pier in Dún Laoghaire was built in 1843 as the Royal Victorian Baths and was developed as the Kingston Baths between 1905 and 1911. It comprised an entrance building, open-air pool and children’s pool fed by tidal seawater. It closed in the 1980s.

Yesterday’s plan was developed in-house by council architects and was in marked contrast to the plan it produced seven years ago, which cost €140 million, and included high-rise buildings. It was rejected by the public and councillors. A second plan, put forward by consultants Royal Haskoning and Murray Associates in February 2008, was also rejected.