Sir, - Frank Hughes (October 29th) rightly draws our attention to Dublin Corporation's proposed location of the new sewage works on the Pigeon House Harbour quay front. This location betrays a disregard for our cultural heritage and the future of this fine historical site.
An alternative and more logical site identified by Frank Hughes alongside the main plant would make much greater sense and leave a large quay area for more appropriate development.
The Pigeon House Harbour was the original docking place for ships arriving into Dublin Port in the late 18th century. The Pigeon House Hotel was built at that time beside the harbour to provide overnight accommodation for visitors before they ventured into Dublin through Ringsend.
In 1989 the Pigeon House Hotel was restored by the Bolton Trust with funding from the ESB and Forbairt and remains as a lonely island of cultural heritage on the harbour quay in an area of desolation. The harbour is crying out for further development and restoration to return it to its former glory.
The recent plans of Dublin Docklands Authority have given new hope to this area and to the Poolbeg peninsula which has enormous potential for development. At the beginning of this initiative it seems to those of us involved that it is disastrous to lock such an important site into the development of a sewage works. - Yours, etc.,
Rea O'Neill,
Chairman, Bolton Trust, Pigeon House Harbour, Dublin 4.