Council clarifies position on baths plan

DUN Laoghaire
Rathdown County Council has rejected a claim that it will not be able to
proceed with the long mooted baths project if the Government does not approve
their current capital building programme.

According to
Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind), a department minister must approve the programme
before phase one of the baths project gets the go ahead.

The first phase
of the proposal which is expected to cost approximately e1.6 million, has
already been included in the council’s 2011-2014 Capital Programme.

“I would like to
see the council proceed with the competitive public tender process as soon as
possible,

? said Cllr Boyhan.

However, a
spokeswoman at the council insisted that that it does not need approval from a
Government department to begin the project.

“While the
council requires the approval for its overall capital budget, this particular
project does not require the approval of any Government department,

? the
spokesperson said.

The initial
baths redevelopment scheme would involve the demolition of the existing
derelict buildings that comprise the baths complex and extending the coastal
promenade adjoining the Edwardian pavilion.

It would also
involve reinforcing existing coastal defences against erosion and the
construction of a new forecourt as far as the People’s Park.

Cllr Boyhan
asked the council to clarify what aspects of the project the e1.6 million
figure would cover. As the council has already stated that the e1.6 million is
earmarked solely for phase one of the project, he has requested an estimate of
how much subsequent phases of the scheme will cost.

“My
understanding is that the figure of e1.6 million is just to demolish the
existing baths,

? he said.

“We need to establish what will be the final cost for
building all phases of the baths project, as promised by the council. There is
much speculation about the cost of the project and if the council is committed
to its development.

?

He added:

“It
has always been my view that a simple open sea baths is what local people want.
It is the way to proceed rather than some over elaborate series of high
maintenance pools.

?

The council
spokesperson said the redevelopment of the baths site was subject to a
statutory planning process.

“The County
Manager has confirmed that preliminary design work is currently being carried
out with a view to bringing proposals to a public consultation before the end
of the year,

? she said.

“Following this,
the approval of the elected members will be required. Once the members have
agreed to proceed, or not, as the case may be, and subject to funds being
available, the project will go out to a competitive public tender process,
which may take some months to complete.

?