New Dun Laoghaire Baths not accessible to all, say campaigners

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillors have called on the local authority to carry out remedial works at the recently opened Dun Laoghaire Baths site to ensure that it is accessible for all.

The Baths were reopened in December following a lengthy and expensive redevelopment project.

However, local campaigners and residents have contacted representatives raising concerns about the lack of accessibility for wheelchair users, people with mobility issues, and the elderly.

A campaign group called Access for All also posted videos on social media showing the difficulty
faced by wheelchair users at the site.

The group says that the ramps available are too steep for many to use.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett and councillor Melisa Halpin have written to chief executive of the council Frank Curran asking how such an oversight occurred and how it can be rectified.

Deputy Boyd Barrett said: “It is unbelievably shocking and disappointing that this brand new, “state of the art” public amenity could have been completed and opened formally when it is not accessible to many people.

“The Save Our Seafront campaign, which we spearheaded 17 years ago, was precisely to demand an amenity for all rather than the private redevelopment of this seaside site.

“It is unacceptable that many can now not use it and myself and cllr Melisa Halpin have written today to the council looking for an explanation and an immediate plan to make the site accessible for all.”

Councillor Halpin said councillors “cannot believe that this new public amenity, that we were all delighted to see reopen in December, now turns out to be inaccessible for those in our community with mobility difficulties.

“The redevelopment of this site took far too long, cost far too much money as a result of those delays, and now we have this incredibly serious issue.

“Myself and Deputy Boyd Barrett wrote to the chief executive this morning demanding an explanation and most importantly a plan for the remedial works.

“This amenity is not a public amenity until it is one for all the public.”

Fine Gael TD and Dun Laoghaire representative Jennifer Carroll MacNeil said that the lack of accessibility was “perfectly obvious the day of the launch so instead of welcoming, I asked the chief architect for a serious timeline for delivery of proper access for all.

“I was told it might go to tender in 2023.”