Madam, - It is deeply alarming to learn that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is actively promoting the development of a 180-apartment and retail complex on a 5.5 acre infill site jutting into Scotsman's Bay on the pretence that this massive private development is the only way that "public amenities" can be afforded on the site of the old Dun Laoghaire Baths.
The council's record on promises of public amenities in return for allowing private apartment development on former public land is not good. Five years ago it promised that the development at the Pavilion site on Marine Road would include a children's library and an ice skating rink. These were part of the "public amenity" aspects of this "public-private" development and both disappeared and will never appear as another block of apartments is being built on the final part of the site.
It is quite ironic that the promises of public amenities on the huge landfill site along the East Pier - which is the most visited national heritage site on this island - include the provision of another ice skating rink along with a swimming pool.
The officials who have drawn up plans to boost the apartment and retail complex contend that a 5.5 acre site with coastal defences is needed for the proper development of this site. This is fallacious. A more modest development on the scale outlined in the council's own Area Coastal Plan of 2002 would require very little, if any, infill.
That plan, incidentally, stated that there should be no residential element of any development of the old baths site. The council's coastal plan was thrown out last year and virtually the entire coastline from Booterstown to Killiney is now open for residential or commercial development without height or scale restriction.
It is very disquieting also to hear that councillors, including Labour's Niamh Bhreathnach, claim that the baths site proposals are "warmly welcomed" (statement on her website) when 1,200 people took part in a public demonstration against this proposal on Sunday. As one of the speakers noted, this is the largest body of people to march along the seafront in Dun Laoghaire since the British army departed here in 1922.
The council promised there would be public consultation after the last proposals for the baths were rejected among considerable public opposition. There has been none.
It is also very disquieting to learn that the council intends to discuss their own officials' incredible proposals and vote on a "reserved function" for the disposal of these public lands for private development at a meeting - closed to the public and press - on June 7th to be held not in the Town Hall, as is normal, but in Bewley's Hotel in Sandyford, seven miles away from the seafront they intend to destroy. Should that motion be passed the desecration of this beautiful stretch of coastline would be a matter of formality.
There are very great fears among the community at the prospect of unrestricted development in Scotsman's Bay, on the site of Carlisle Pier and on the lands abutting the West Pier. We have also noted that someone in the county council has coined the phrase "Golden Mile" to describe the coastline. Are they thinking of creating a Las Vegas or Hong Kong here? - Yours etc.,
URSULA MAGUIRE,
Chairperson,
Sandycove and Glasthule
Residents Association
Madam, - Kevin Myers (May 13th) could not have made the case more powerfully against the Dun Laoghaire seafront project. I was most impressed by the detail he gave on the environmental and aesthetic issues against the project. However, I am even more concerned with the natural forces of sea versus land interaction, should this project progress further.
I have understood always that man meddles with the shoreline at his peril, and certainly not without exhaustive practical testing. Frank McDonald (May 12th) quotes only that "the advice of marine engineers was sought" with no answers given.
The reclamation of over five acres from the sea, bounded by a new breakwater at least 10m seaward, is an awesome challenge with possible major consequences.
Anyone who has witnessed the pounding of the waves on the East Pier and adjacent shore, in the last few days of good weather in May will appreciate what could happen in stormy conditions in winter. God help the inhabitants of 180 flats when they all come tumbling down! - Yours, etc.,
JAMES RYAN,
Mellifont Avenue,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Congratulations to Frank McDonald and The Irish Times for exposing the lunacy of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The excellent computer-generated images (Property supplement, May 12th) illustrated perfectly the monstrous proportions DLCC have in mind for the Dun Laoghaire Baths site. How clever of Frank McDonald to afford Irish Times readers the luxury of this insight into the minds of DLCC especially since DLCC feels no need to consult the residents of the borough about these proposals. Those of us who support the Save Our Seafront campaign are not against progress. We do, however, have reservations about the MacDonaldisation of an historic and naturally beautiful part of Dublin Bay. This area of coastal beauty is not the preserve of residents only. - Yours etc.,
P.G. BRADLEY,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin
Madam, - It was with incredulity that I read Frank McDonald's article (May 12th) in which he approves of the proposed seafront development in Dun Laoghaire. I have always thought that your Environment Editor was a champion of integrity and sensitivity in town planning, but the development he favours here is as gross as they come.
Dun Laoghaire is a 19th century town of considerable charm and character which it has so far maintained despite its proximity to Dublin. One of its main attractions is the sea: the views of the bay, the pier, the elegant coastline and the unexpected glimpses throughout the town. Much of this would be hopelessly spoiled by the massive development which juts out into Scotsman's Bay like a grim fortress. Astonishingly, its "attractions", the plaza and waterworld, turn their backs on the sea to the point of total exclusion, unless you live in one of the apartments above it. Well, one does not have to be a socialist to realise that this is indeed privatisation of the seafront.
The old baths in Scotsman's Bay have become a dangerous eyesore. Add to this that the town has no swimming pool and the inescapable solution presents itself to turn the old baths into new indoor-outdoor pools with a sea-bathing facility. A landscaped area could be created to join up with the People's Park and the whole would be hugely attractive and enjoyable and very much cheaper than €40 million.
Finally, let us forget about the silly Bilbao trip and instead send county architect Derek Jago to Denmark or Holland to study the very popular outdoor swimming pools there. At least the climate will be comparable to our own. - Yours etc,
TANYA TOUWEN,
Clarinda Park West,
Dun Laoghaire