Dun Laoghaire county council defends research visit to Bilbao

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has defended a decision to send 10 councillors and officials on a fact-finding mission to Bilbao.

Five politicians and five planners are due to start a five-day visit next month to see what lessons Dún Laoghaire can learn from the famously rejuvenated coastal Spanish city.

The council, which has just proposed a €140 million redevelopment of the town's seafront, hopes that Dún Laoghaire can replicate the success of Bilbao, which is best known for the Guggenheim museum.

Opponents of the plans to replace Dún Laoghaire's old baths site with 180 apartments, a 10-storey "crystal tower" and a 5.5-acre maritime park have criticised the visit.

The Save our Seafront group said there was "huge anger" about the visit, while Green councillor Kealin Ireland described it as "wholly inappropriate".

However, a council spokeswoman defended the trip, which will also look at a proposal to twin Dún Laoghaire with Getxo, a suburb of Bilbao. The delegation would be flying on economy tickets costing only €100, she pointed out.

"Bilbao is one of the best international examples of how a town achieved social and economic regeneration on the back of investment in cultural/recreat-ional facilities," she said.

"The visit will offer an opportunity to discuss the achievements of Bilbao and learn from their experience first hand, with a view to assisting in establishing Dún Laoghaire as a cultural and recreation centre of international standing."

The spokeswoman declined to name the other members of the group, which will be led by cathaoirleach Niamh Breathnach.

Strong opposition to the proposed redevelopment of the baths was expressed on Thursday at a meeting attended by more than 200 people.

Labour councillor Jane Dillon-Byrne said yesterday the proposed development was too high and too bulky. "We're a Victorian town of three- to six-storey buildings built around a harbour. This is not the way for us to go.

"We could do with some revitalisation, but no analysis has been done of the economic benefits of this project," she said.

Asked about her party colleague's support for the development, she replied that Ms Breathnach was from Blackrock whereas she lived in Dún Laoghaire.

Ms Breathnach warned that if nothing was done about coastal erosion, Dún Laoghaire would end up in the sea in 100 years.

While the plan would change the face and character of Dún Laoghaire, it reflected modern demands for outlets for entertainment and activity, she said.