A chara, – Dublin City Council should be commended on aspects of their recent proposal for the redevelopment of George’s Dock. Following a feasibility study, a preferred option for the landmark site has been highlighted which includes a 50m all-season outdoor swimming facility (a lido), a diving pool and two smaller pools.
The project is a rare and welcome opportunity to rebalance Dublin’s development in favour of its citizens.
However, the preferred option conspicuously excludes any green space or parkland. This is due to the proposed inclusion of an emergency services training facility for the fire brigade, “The Swift Rescue Village”.
Is it right for such a facility, which will be dormant most of the year, to occupy almost half the site in a part of the city with a massive dearth of green spaces, particularly given our publicly declared biodiversity crisis? A nationally accessible location outside the city would make more sense. Giving almost half the site over to an occasionally used training centre would undermine the great potential of the site to become a major civic landmark and amenity, leaving instead an incongruous and confused mish-mash.
The optimum public option would be to combine swimming facilities and greenspace, providing a great boon to citizens and visitors. –Yours, etc,
PATRICK EARLS,
JANE DILLON,
George’s Dock
Lido Campaign,
Dublin 6.