Councillors in Dún Laoghaire are expected to decide on a controversial proposal to develop the derelict baths in the town this evening. The proposal, designed by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council architects, has attracted considerable public opposition because of its large residential component.
The € 140 million plan includes an eight-storey building with 180 apartments over retail units and restaurants, an indoor swimming and leisure complex, and a maritime park on five acres of infilled seashore. The design also includes a 10-storey circular glass tower with a viewing platform, a plaza for open-air events and a promenade to link the Forty Foot and the East Pier.
Locals believe that the plan "privatises" the seafront but the council argues that a residential element is essential to fund the public amenities included in the proposal.
A report on the baths development will be presented to councillors by acting county manager Eamonn O'Hare at this evening's meeting and is to include alternative options requested by councillors last June.
The eight options vary from the cost of simply cleaning up the site to intensive development of it.
It appears unlikely that councillors will accept the plan in its current form. Fine Gael councillor Eugene Regan said that the focus of the meeting would be on selecting the best option rather than discussing the current proposals, which "do not command majority support within the council".
"While we know what we don't want, it may be more difficult to agree on what we do want for the Dún Laoghaire baths site," he said.
"In rejecting the current proposals, it is important that we can agree on a scheme which is both feasible and acceptable to the local community. What we cannot do is throw our hands up in the air and walk away from the issue, leaving the baths derelict for another 10 or 20 years."
Green Party TD Ciarán Cuffe said it was great to have all the options to consider. "The council should drop the Monkstown ring road, which no one wants, and use the €13 million that they'd save to pay for the baths."
Mr O'Hare said that it would be inappropriate for him to make any comment on the proposals outlined in the report until the contents are debated at the council meeting.
A protest, organised by the Save Our Seafront group, which has opposed the plan from the outset, will be held outside the county hall during the meeting.
Cllr Aidan Culhane, the leader of the Labour group on the council, said it was time for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to move on from the baths issue. "The Labour Party believes that the right thing to do is to drop the existing proposal. There is no prospect of reaching consensus in the council."
