Dun Laoghaire Traffic & Commuting Chat

Manzoor14

Might be a week or so late to this but just saw last night that they've finally reopened the upper level of the East Pier again! From the ramp onwards.

hatrickpatrick

Manzoor14 wrote: »

Might be a week or so late to this but just saw last night that they've finally reopened the upper level of the East Pier again! From the ramp onwards.

This was sorely missed during the epic heatwave in early summer, glad it's finally back! Never knew freeze-thaw damage could be so severe, but I guess Ophelia softened it up a bit before Emma finished it off?

Gareth Keenan

The planned Harbour Campus in the old Stena terminal is no more. Foot-dragging on an appropriate Foreshore License

https://afloat.ie/port-news/dun-laoghaire-news/item/40962-no-more-harbour-innovation-campus-for-dun-laoghaire

The article infers that is at Harbour Company's (now DLRCC) door, but I do recall that the Dept of the Marine took a few years to grant a similar license for the redevelopment of the Baths.

In any case, a real blow for the town.

Homesick Alien

Gareth Keenan wrote: »

The planned Harbour Campus in the old Stena terminal is no more. Foot-dragging on an appropriate Foreshore License

https://afloat.ie/port-news/dun-laoghaire-news/item/40962-no-more-harbour-innovation-campus-for-dun-laoghaire

The article infers that is at Harbour Company's (now DLRCC) door, but I do recall that the Dept of the Marine took a few years to grant a similar license for the redevelopment of the Baths.

In any case, a real blow for the town.

That is an absolute disaster. Bureaucracy gone mad. Would have been a huge boost for the town and injected life into the old harbour area.

schemingbohemia

Bit unfair to state "Bureaucracy gone mad" based on the linked story - awful shame whatever the reason.

Larbre34

This is a terrible turn of events, an important piece of work that got lost between the stools of the question marks that hung over the Harbour Company transfer to the Council.

However the Times has a statement from the Council that it is taken aback, that the foreshore licence is well advanced by the Department.

Hopefully this is either a bit of gamesmanship of behalf of Gannon that he might be able to enter a new lease on more favourable terms (and I couldn't blame him for that) or that given the demand for commercial offices in the entire City, somebody else will agree with the potential of a modern building beside a train station, in a beautiful location and take up the facility.

Gareth Keenan

it doesn't sound like gamesmanship, he was asked by the IT today whether it would be revived if the licensing was overcome, and the answer was a blunt no.

Homesick Alien

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Bit unfair to state "Bureaucracy gone mad" based on the linked story - awful shame whatever the reason.

The story was updated with more details after I left that post. Clearly a lot more to it than bureaucracy now!

Larbre34

Gareth Keenan wrote: »

it doesn't sound like gamesmanship, he was asked by the IT today whether it would be revived if the licensing was overcome, and the answer was a blunt no.

The details in that same article about the disorderly departure of the other shareholders over the past months means there is more to this than meets the eye. I suspect the foreshore licence issue is a red herring, jumped on for a convenient exit from an unstable project.

In any case, the idea is still sound, the licence should be proceeded with and the building offered as a ready-to-go opportunity for other operators in that sector. I can think of at least a dozen co-working / workbench / startup lab operators in greater Dublin that are out the door with interest. As Ive said above, DL Harbour is an ideal location.

.......

The council may have expressed surprise but why is the licence taking so long?

The idea was announced over a year ago.

Tabnabs

According to a person I was talking to and is knowledgable about these things, the licence is issued by the department of Agriculture. The spotlight should be placed very firmly on them also.

Stephen15

Excuse my ignorance but why would a foreshore licence be needed for a project like this and why would it be refused it doesn't really make much sense?

josip

Stephen15 wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance but why would a foreshore licence be needed for a project like this and why would it be refused it doesn't really make much sense?

https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/faqs/foreshore-frequently-asked-questions

Stephen15

josip wrote: »

https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/faqs/foreshore-frequently-asked-questions

I've seen that but can't work out how they are going to interfere with the seabed by turning the old Ferry terminal into a tech hub.

Larbre34

My professional interpretation would be that the site was subject to a foreshore licence in the 1990s for the HSS terminal and so that requires updating for the change of use, as the foreshore is under the perpetual protection of the state.

In short, designated harbour activities get foreshore licences, just to be sure.

Tabnabs

Council responds to plastic pollution incident at Sandycove & Forty Foot coastline

STATEMENT Saturday 3 November 1400

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council received complaints on Friday 2 November with regards to a reported plastic pollution incident at the Forty Foot coastline & Sandycove beach area as a result of works by SIAC/Mantovani Group at the Council’s Dun Laoghaire Baths project.

SIAC commenced an immediate clean up operation on Friday afternoon continuing into Saturday with 40 of their operatives on site. These operatives have been assisted by Council crews in their work in order to expedite the operation and the Council will recover these costs from SIAC. It is expected that this clean-up will continue throughout the day and weekend. The primary objective at the current time is to minimise the impact of the plastic on the local area. The Council also wants to thank the public who notified us and those who have voluntarily assisted in the clean up efforts.

SIAC has informed the Council that they have immediately co-opted a specialist third party environmental firm to help them assess and mitigate the affects of the pollution. They have further advised that the plastic strips used in the concrete setting works are chemically inactive and do not pose a damage to water quality. A temporary halt has been placed on the concrete pouring works. However, as a precautionary measure the Council are having bathing water samples analysed, results of which will be publicly available. Notices are in place advising bathers and beach users of the situation.

All relevant authorities, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks & Wildlife Service, were advised of this incident by the Council yesterday afternoon and, aside from the clean up operation, the Council and it's agency colleagues continue to closely monitor the developing situation.

The Council takes its statutory and moral responsibilities as guardians of the local & wider environment very seriously. We are keenly aware of the potential impact that this plastic pollution event could have on local marine and foreshore ecosystems. While an initial investigation is already underway we have demanded a full report and investigation from SIAC on the exact cause of this plastic pollution event.

We will be in ongoing contact with SIAC over the weekend and will both assist and monitor the SIAC cleanup. We will be cooperating fully with all relevant agencies including the EPA in any further investigation into this damaging environment incident.

fixXxer

I wonder if the builders will be fined. They've left the sea front area there in an awful state, not just with the plastic they've dumped.

Tabnabs

Will being fined solve the problem or prevent it from happening again?

fixXxer

Tabnabs wrote: »

Will being fined solve the problem or prevent it from happening again?

Depends on the size of the fine I suppose. If it's cheaper for a company to clean up their mess than to pay a fine then that's what they'll do.

fixxxer

fixxxer wrote: »

Depends on the size of the fine I suppose. If it's cheaper for a company to clean up their mess than to pay a fine then that's what they'll do.

They should face both the costs of the clean up and a fine.

Rew

Id imagine there will only be a fine if negligence is shown, Id assume they are on the hook for cleanup regardless

josip

Does anyone have any real information about what the incident was?
That press release is very top heavy with media spin.

fixXxer

Plastic filaments used in setting cement were found washed up all along the coastline.

Gareth Keenan

updated statement https://www.dlrcoco.ie/en/news/general-news-public-notices-press-releases/update-plastic-pollution-incident-sandycove-and-40ft

UPDATE: Plastic Pollution incident at Sandycove 1200 Monday 5 November

• The Council are continuing to engage with SIAC/Mantovani and third party environmental consultants in investigating the exact cause of the pollution incident and level of continuing environmental hazard,
• SIAC/Mantovani crews are again on site at a number of local coastal location engaged in a clean, assessing and monitoring operation,
• 70 individuals and specialist environmental damage team working today,
• Underwater, air and shoreline assessments have been carried out the weekend to assess the full extent of the incident,
• The Council have stopped all works at the Dún Laoghaire Baths site temporarily,
• The Council has engaged an independent specialist envrinonmental consultant to assess the impact on sealife and wildlife,
• While SIAC initial results from water quality test shows no chemical change in water quality, the Council are still awaiting it’s own results,
• Notice regarding presence of plastic particles to bathers and beach users still in situ,
• The Council would again like to thank the public and volunteers for their assistance with the shoreline cleanup,
• The Council wish to advise the public that they will recouping any and all public costs associated from SIAC/Mantovani.

Homesick Alien

Anyone know what's happening with the shopping centre? Work seems to have stopped for about a year now. They were all action moving shops around at the start but now nothing.

Tabnabs

No tenants interested in moving in. The best thing that could happen to that shopping centre is for Tesco to move out of the offices and pull the plug on the whole thing with a complete redevelopment of the site.

frash

Tabnabs wrote: »

No tenants interested in moving in. The best thing that could happen to that shopping centre is for Tesco to move out of the offices and pull the plug on the whole thing with a complete redevelopment of the site.

What's the likelihood of Tesco moving out of the offices?
Does anyone know how long their lease is?

josip

frash wrote: »

What's the likelihood of Tesco moving out of the offices?
Does anyone know how long their lease is?

But in staying there and preventing a redevelopment it's good for their Bloomfields business.

Captainsatnav

Hi folks,

We've just moved to Glasthule from Cork. I can't figure out what to do about waste collection. Panda or Greyhound seem to be the only options but as we live in a small terraced house with a tiny, tiny yard out the back I'd like to avoid having to store 3 bins out there and drag them through the house on collection day. Can I ask what people do in similar circumstances? I'm quite close to the recycling centre in Glasthule, and I've noticed the neighbours all have Panda plastic bags outside their houses on Thursday mornings. I rang Panda to enquire but yer one was hopeless. Hadn't a clue what I was on about.

Silver Breeze

Hiya...

We live in Glenageary and the Eden Park recycling centre is a boon, because it will accept EVERYTHING for FREE. Panda charges to lift the green bin and has a long list of household items that it will not accept, like cleaned aluminium foil food trays and plastic loaf of bread wrappers. Thus, we put out the black bin once a month with waste that cannot be recycled and all else I carry to Glasthule on my electric bike.

Ask your neighbours where they get Panda bags, and visit the recycle centre once a week.