A decision on the redevelopment of Dún Laoghaire Baths was deferred for a second time at a council meeting last night. After almost three hours of often fractious debate, councillors agreed to reconsider the issue in October.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county councillors directed the manager to examine the possibility of alternative funding, other than the residential element proposed, for the redevelopment of the derelict site on Queen's Road.
Councillors were considering an eight-storey proposal including 180 apartments with coffee bars, restaurants, a waterworld and indoor leisure complex, a 25-metre pool, seaweed baths and other leisure and sports facilities. A 10-storey glass tower "lighthouse" with a viewing platform and the reclamation of 5.5 acres of foreshore for a maritime park were also proposed.
County manager Derek Brady had recommended that councillors accept one of four modified options put to them last night to reduce the height and/or length of the development.
All four options involved the removal of the social and affordable housing element of the plan; 36 units had been suggested as part of the plan but the manager said they could be moved to an alternative location in the centre of Dún Laoghaire. He argued that this would make more units available at a more affordable price.
A continuous cacophony outside the town hall from protesters against the development added to the pressure on councillors. Along with the use of a megaphone and chants, enterprising protesters used balloons on strings with slogans written on them, which reached as far as the council chamber windows, to get their message across.
Cllr Barry Conway (FF) said the removal of the social and affordable element of the housing gave a "whiff of exclusivity" to the project. Green councillor Tom Kivlehan said he was astonished that the manager would make the suggestion.
As the debate became more heated, Cllr Larry Butler (FF), after an interruption from Cllr Kivlehan, suggested that his colleague "shut his mouth".
Cllr Donal Marren (FG), along with other party councillors, pushed through a motion calling on Cathaoirleach Pat Hand to write to the Government and Dún Laoghaire TDs, who have stated their opposition to the development, to seek funding for the project. He complained of "megaphone diplomacy" and the receipt of offensive e-mails from opponents of the plan. One had called him "an arrogant oaf".
Councillors were given a report on the recent public consultation on the baths proposal. Submissions were made by 782 people, over 80 per cent of whom were against the plan or opposed to elements of it.
