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Child Item

Bray - A kip - And I'm from bray !

MarkHobBray1977

Bray is full of €2 shops , take aways , pubs and thats it...A total dive..Throw in the new Meth clinic , shops opening and closing in the space of a year...Feck me , where did it all go wrong...Such potential ...Wasted in the extreme !!!!!!

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Annasopra

Bray Tidy Towns and Bray Coastcare both do fantastic work and are always looking for volunteers to help out.

veggie newbie

The bins on the seafront are a perfect example of how 'smart' the town council are. Quite a few (not all thankfully) have no lids, theyre just an open dustbin wth a black liner. Promende users are making the effort to put rubbish into the bins only for the crows to pick all the brown chip bags out so they can rummage through them on the ground. I see this any morning i walk the seafront at 7am. Cleaners then have to spend a huge amount of time picking up the scattered rubbish that was originally in the bin. Brilliant joined up thinking BTC. You cld save cleaners time & yourselves a lot of cash by putting lids on these bins.

Bullseye1

Parking at the civic buildings is a disgrace and a nightmare. It's a horrible town to drive in with poor light sequences. It's a pity really as there some nice pubs and restaurants and the promenade is nice if kept clean. It has alot going for it except the town council in their shiny new building wit inadequate parking.

Judgement Day

Bray hasn't been known as the Brighton of Ireland since Victorian times but even in the 1960s it was a great place to grow up in. However the UDC have presided over the gradual run down of the town and although I occasionally visit friends in the town, wild horses wouldn't drag me back there to live. As for dog .....it's not for nothing that Albert Walk was known as "Dog **** Alley" when I lived in the town. Last one out turn off the lights.

MrMickeyMouse

Bullseye1 wrote: »

Bray has lost out on a number of major points. Dell moving out of Bray because BTC would not allow them develop their existing facility and the shopping center not being built in the center of the town. Those along with Tesco being refused permission to upgrade their facility has been bad for the town. Its now full of cheap shops and tattoo parlors. Bray Town Council has a lot to answer for.

Yep, sadly a lot has gone wrong for the town and a deep recession is not an ideal time to start seeing changes, though not dropping litter everywhere is something all of us can tell our kids for free!

A good few points you make

Bullseye1

Bray has lost out on a number of major points. Dell moving out of Bray because BTC would not allow them develop their existing facility and the shopping center not being built in the center of the town. Those along with Tesco being refused permission to upgrade their facility has been bad for the town. Its now full of cheap shops and tattoo parlors. Bray Town Council has a lot to answer for.

MrMickeyMouse

Occasionally you hear it said that Bray is like the Brighton of Ireland.

Sadly this is obviously said by someone who has never visited Brighton post 1980!
Brighton in the UK for, those that don't know it, is now a very vibrant and colourful city but not without similar problems to Bray previously.

What happened in Brighton was a huge effort by the local council to positively encourage small shops and businesses to move back into the city.
Brighton has a famous collection of narrow streets called The Laines, which are home to a great selection of arts, crafts, food and all sorts of funky shops.

Brighton cleaned up its act, litter is collected, the police do policing and on a whole the city is a fantastic place to visit.
Now Bray could become a smaller version, the council could actively attract smaller diverse arts and crafts shops to certain areas. We don't need more Pizza, Pubs or Bookmakers.

WE DO NEED to stop dropping litter EVERYWHERE, we need dog waste bins in the parks, we need to pick up dogs mess, it is EVERYWHERE.
Just try and walk from the north of town to the beach with 2 young children and I can assure you there is dog sh*t EVERYWHERE.

We are all responsible for our town, yet we are happy to blame everyone else.
Who are the people that dump rubbish in the park at Woodbrook Glen? Who are the people that don't pick up the dogs mess? WE ARE!

Yes the council does need to get a grip on the graffiti, the endless rubbish but also we need to take a more active role too.
I don't mean daft schemes like €25 fee per year residents associations just so i can tell my neighbour his dog sh*ts in the park, I mean we should campaign to our TD, ask why we have no dog litter bins in the park or along a lot of the streets.

Ask why the endless graffiti is left untouched, ask why there is not the odd police patrol around the parks from time to time.

Bray has a long way to go to get back to those glory days of seaside nirvana it once had.

Milly82

I agree it is a kip, good night life down the seafront though.

Gillington

ibkeane wrote: »

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=5310

Perhaps a re run might help !

brayblue24 wrote: »

Enjoyed that

Yeah that was very good,cheers for that!

brayblue24

ibkeane wrote: »

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=5310

Perhaps a re run might help !

Enjoyed that

Judgement Day

ibkeane wrote: »

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=5310

Perhaps a re run might help !

Dead-on! That is the type of thinking that is needed to rejuvenate Bray not more poxy snooker halls for unemployed teens! Thanks for posting - inspirational.

ibkeane

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=5310

Perhaps a re run might help !

The Guide

HalloweenJack wrote: »

The biggest problem with Bray is the lack of facilities for teens. Any kind of entertainment for them (amusements, McDonald's, cinema, etc.) requires money. Surely there is something that can be done there?

Think thats true of most towns. Its an awkward age to cater for it seems. Especially something that requires no money.

Judgement Day

But it's still a kip isn't it?

vasch_ro

there is loads of stuff in bray , loads, resource centre at st feargals in oldcourt, ballwaltrim community centre, Fassaroe resource centre and community centre with snooker tables indoor and outdoor floodlit soccer, dj desk , drop in , seomra drop for youths on adelaide road, bray youth service, bray outdoor education project , tonnes of stuff

HalloweenJack

The biggest problem with Bray is the lack of facilities for teens. Any kind of entertainment for them (amusements, McDonald's, cinema, etc.) requires money. Surely there is something that can be done there?

darrenon

I grew up in bray.hated it while i was there so moved now i miss the place terribly has a lot of problems but so does everywhere.It has a whole lot going for it.Close to the sea, close to the mountains and country, yet it is close to dublin and all that has to offer.Mind your own business and everyone else minds theirs.
Id move back tomorrow and will when this recession levells out:D

FluffyCat

Ive lived in Bray all my life and hope to buy here soon. I love it here. Yes it has its bad points but I havent seen a town that doesnt!! Its a shame that the recession has hit hard.

jason197

Hi,
I've lived in bray for 5 years and having lived in different countries i have to say the local shop's have no manners and don't even acknowlege you( you will be lucky if they look at you!!,too busy chatting to one another!!) when you buy from them. As coming from Scotland myself where the local people and local shops (staff or owners) will greet you with a ''hello'' ''please & ''thankyou'' no matter how their day is going or how bad the weather is. The one shop i detest the most is Dunnes on quinsborough rd, the staff are inpolite, not very helpfull and are always stocking shelves and blocking up the aisles. Am i alone in thinking this??

phrage

each restaurant is lazy and mean and dull. the indian sit down and the 5 chinese are particularly vile. they simply do not know how to cook.
the town is dying - killed by the greed and neglect of a half dozen landlord families -
the pubs with the exception of porterhouse sell predictable beers and indifferent food at silly prices
the royal hotel sells 1950's mammy food overcooked at 21st century prices, presided over by a midget manager with adhd guaranteed to give diners indigestion.

foxy06

tattoo wrote: »

I miss the mini-golf on the beach

tattoo

Johnnymcg wrote: »

- I mean what kind of business chamber is run by a ballet teacher?

I don't know, what kind of business chamber is run by a ballet teacher??

I miss the mini-golf on the beach

Annasopra

Judgement Day wrote: »

The seafront is a very poor shadow of what it once was in the 1960s - even the mid 1970s - and it needs a monumental facelift to bring it back to its former glory. The only improvement (?) has been the Aquarium thing that occupies the former public toilets/cafeteria block opposite the Fun Palace. Does anybody even remember the pier that use to extend from the other side of it? Only built circa 1969/71 ? and already long forgotten. Bray UDC let the whole town, and the seafront in particular, go to the dogs and anybody saying otherwise doesn't have a clue what they are talking about.

Some of what went on was beyond the control of councillors - A drop in tourism for example If you look at similar towns in the UK that had a boom in the 60s - this dropped hugely when foreign travel to spain etc boomed. Also the chamber of commerce never particularly helped the situation - It was and is made up of a clique of backslapping blueshirts - I mean what kind of business chamber is run by a ballet teacher?

jenzz

brayblue24 wrote: »

Ah now you see I'm only a blow in (albeit originally from close to Bray) so no I don't remember the pier you mention. The only point of reference I have for periods before 1975ish are the books by Henry Cairns et al.

I don't/can't disagree with what you say but my point was to single out BTC employees for a job particularly well done with maintaining the prom and I stick with that-they deserve credit for their hard work despite what their employers may or may not be doing. Another notable recent improvement is the spa treatment type place in sitiu beside Sealife. Hope it does well because that was one drab part of the builidng before they moved in.

That was my point too - yes a facelift would be lovely but rather than knock the whole town with negatives these guys do a great job & they deserve the credit for such a good job.

Another thing I noticed today was 10 years of hoarding has been removed on the main street to reveal..... a building site. Is there not a legality somewhere that they must return it to the way it was before they destroyed it?

Also must add Hollands is a really nice place & such nice staff. Also the little coffee shop halfway down the Quinnsboro rd past Dunnes. I think the lady who owns the coffee shop in the old boat house owns this ( ive seen her work in both) & she is really pleasant. Lovely lunch in it away from the 1pm madness in the few little places on the main st. Oh & also Jim Doyles.. Food fantasticly consistant - love going there for my dinner & the bit of humour with the staff... & of course match days oh & the snow on christmas eve.... Getting all excited now at the thought of it snowing there this year. Isnt that so cool that you can say you get snow on Bray beach lol

brayblue24

Judgement Day wrote: »

Does anybody even remember the pier that use to extend from the other side of it? Only built circa 1969/71 ?

Ah now you see I'm only a blow in (albeit originally from close to Bray) so no I don't remember the pier you mention. The only point of reference I have for periods before 1975ish are the books by Henry Cairns et al.

I don't/can't disagree with what you say but my point was to single out BTC employees for a job particularly well done with maintaining the prom and I stick with that-they deserve credit for their hard work despite what their employers may or may not be doing. Another notable recent improvement is the spa treatment type place in sitiu beside Sealife. Hope it does well because that was one drab part of the builidng before they moved in.

Judgement Day

brayblue24 wrote: »

I know I've edited your post jenzz but I let out a notalgic sigh at the mention of Caprani's, King's and Dixon's:rolleyes:

As for the seafront agree 100%. Even my folks, Dun Laoghaire pier walkers all their lives, now go there for their daily constitutional. It's always immaculate and, yeah, full credit to the team that do the work down there and make it such an enjoyable amenity.

The seafront is a very poor shadow of what it once was in the 1960s - even the mid 1970s - and it needs a monumental facelift to bring it back to its former glory. The only improvement (?) has been the Aquarium thing that occupies the former public toilets/cafeteria block opposite the Fun Palace. Does anybody even remember the pier that use to extend from the other side of it? Only built circa 1969/71 ? and already long forgotten. Bray UDC let the whole town, and the seafront in particular, go to the dogs and anybody saying otherwise doesn't have a clue what they are talking about.

brayblue24

jenzz wrote: »

love my hometown but the downfall I see in Bray was 10 years ago with the removal of Capranis, Kings & Dixons & that absolute disgrace of a hoarding.Funding is very short in the town but credit must be handed to the town council road sweepers down the seafront. Its immaculate. You see a cigarette butt when you walk down the prom its gone when you come back. They take such pride in their work.

I know I've edited your post jenzz but I let out a notalgic sigh at the mention of Caprani's, King's and Dixon's:rolleyes:

As for the seafront agree 100%. Even my folks, Dun Laoghaire pier walkers all their lives, now go there for their daily constitutional. It's always immaculate and, yeah, full credit to the team that do the work down there and make it such an enjoyable amenity.

jenzz

brayblue24 wrote: »

(Slightly off topic but) there's one in the Village Arcade but not being a big fish eater I can't vouch for it

love my hometown but the downfall I see in Bray was 10 years ago with the removal of Capranis, Kings & Dixons & that absolute disgrace of a hoarding. Why is no one being prosocuted for that effort of a florintine centre. The amount of shops shut, jobs lost & bad press the town gets because of that eyesore. Beautiful buildings destroyed with girders & filth really.

Funding is very short in the town but credit must be handed to the town council road sweepers down the seafront. Its immaculate. You see a cigarette butt when you walk down the prom its gone when you come back. They take such pride in their work. The town gets really bad press about dirt & filth on the seafront in the summer. I have witnessed gurriers from other parts coming in for the day drinking & tossing cans & even emptying bins all over the place. There is no funding for the upkeep of Bray head & cliff walk. But do you ever see the group in yellow vests up there? I found out its a voluntary group of local people who pick up rubbish & are now even landscaping the bottom of bray head . Many people slate the town but lets take out hats off to people like them who actually give a damn about the town they live in. There are many retired men involved who I personally feel its shame on me when a 70 odd year old man is up there weekly cutting down trees & strimming grass just to try & improve his hometown.

brayblue24

superficies wrote: »

Only thing missing is a fishmongers.

(Slightly off topic but) there's one in the Village Arcade but not being a big fish eater I can't vouch for it

Annasopra

superficies wrote: »

I have to say I find this a strange thread. I am not originally from Bray but moved just to the North of the town (Woodbrook Glen) over a year ago having lived in the city centre and Killiney previously. There are a fair few problems in Bray, certainly (McDonalds being one but not the worst it has to be said) but there is also something very charming about the town. I love being able, on a Saturday morning, to wander around various shops and get my shopping after a walk on the seafront. Meats and cheese in the Campo di Fiori deli (top tip parma ham here WAY cheaper and better quality than in supermarkets! same with the parmesan), meat in the butchers near the church (dunno the name), veggies in Get Fresh (a real green grocers...YAY). Only thing missing is a fishmongers. For a foodie like me Anvil is a heavenly shop and I love it. Also some excellent book shops for wandering around. There is always an art exhibition of some kind on somewhere. There are loads of places where a delicious coffee can be had while reading the paper. If we want Bray to imrpove we have to a) remember the great stuff that's here already, and b) spend our money in the town in small traders. There are fine places for a bite to eat if you want something relaxed (maybe not something fancy). The Esplanade is a beautiful Victorian facade. If people stopped flinging rubbish around the place the beach would be truly beautiful. Accentuate the positive people, and seriously consider moving back to Bray for those people who were saying they were half thinking about it. House prices extremely reasonable right now (more's the pity for those of us who bought a year ago but anyway) and there is excellent value to be had. Everything you need is either here or in Greystones/DL and it something else to wake up in the morning with a sea breeze and the Sugar Loaf looking at you from your window. For a country girl like me this is a great little town.

I completely agree - Yes Bray has it's many problems but there are many things in the town that are charming and pretty and we need to accentuate those positives - I like the idea that the chameber of commerce recently came up with of promoting business in the town. For me - I love the town - I feel incredibly spititually connected - indeed I recently found my great grandparents on the 1911 census in Bray - yes there are a lot of problems but there are a lot of good things too