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| Press Release: Dún Laoghaire 18 September 2005 Links to: All Press Releases 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Dún Laoghaire, Environment and Justice Press Releases
Ciarán's Addresses Dún Laoghaire Baths Rally Dún Laoghaire Baths
Speech, 18
September 2005 Today is about the power
of the people. Today is about the future
of our town. Today is about proper
planning. Today is about defeating
the over-scaled, disliked plans for a monstrous over-the- top building on our
seafront. Friends. We can't stand
still. Nobody wants the Dún Laoghaire Baths to sit neglected and derelict
forever. I believe a modest proposal that would be in keeping with the character
and spirit of the town would be appropriate. Dún Laoghaire is not
Bilbao. We don't need an enormous waterfront building that would dominate the
coast, that would block the views, that would create exclusive apartments for
the chosen few, and that might well be gated and locked up at night-time to keep
out undesirables. What we do want is
amenities for our children. What we do want is decent
swimming pool within walking distance of where we live. What we do want is maybe
a gym and a coffee shop. We don't want eight to
10 stories of private apartments blocking our view. We don't want more
super-pubs and shopping opportunities. We don't want 7 acres of
land reclaimed from the sea. We don't want 300
underground car-parking spaces. We want a living vibrant
waterfront with amenities for our kids. Friends, there is some
good news. Derek Brady, the County Manager who spearheaded this proposal has
announced his departure from Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. In addition
some of the politicians who welcomed the plans initially have performed u-turns. This plan comes up for
discussion again at the October County Council Meeting. Hopefully they'll meet
in Dun Laoghaire instead of Sandyford. Myself and my Green
Party colleagues believe that you should be given a say in the future of the
Baths. We want different options, ranging from tidying up the site to a modest
proposal, to the Council's plans to be looked at and costed independently. Our
councillors including Kealin, Tom and Nessa are working hard on this. Our
postcards and newsletters have alerted you to the Council's plans. Together we can win. Friends, lobby your councillors and TD's. Tell them what you want and we'll win this one together. We want and we demand quality, not quantity. Thank you. |
