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STRUCTURES AT BLACKROCK Baths have become so unsafe that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has moved to demolish them.
It said this week that it is to tackle “serious public safety issues” associated with the structures and diving platform at Blackrock. The baths were built in 1839, beside Blackrock train station.
At one time, you could buy a special train ticket that also gave you admission to the baths.
The baths were closed in 1997. Abandoned Ireland has a wonderful image of diver Eddie Heron in action at the Blackrock Baths. He went on to represent Ireland at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Inspection
Following a recent inspection by senior council staff, it emerged that the structures “have suffered from extensive weather damage and from the ravages of the sea”, making them and the adjoining land dangerous to the public.
The concrete has been seriously affected by the wind and waves, while the pool structure is beyond repair. The seating and changing block is in danger of collapse.
The council also said that the guard rails to the upper seating area “have rusted away and the steps are exposed”, while the diving platform is seriously corroded and detached from the pool base.
Graffiti
During the inspection, the council noted extensive graffiti and rubbish in the building, “which suggested it is subject to regular unauthorised access”. It confirmed that it is not feasible to secure the site to prevent unauthorised access.
The council asked its constructing structural and civil engineers to carry out a more detailed inspection of the Baths, and following the consultant’s report, county architect Andree Dargan has determined that the structures on the site are ‘dangerous structures’ and that “measures must be taken to remove the danger that exists”.
Demolition
The council is now arranging the necessary demolition work, including the removal of the diving platform. But it said that the elements of the structures and pool/sea wall that are not considered to be dangerous will be retained.
The council is conscious of the special designations that attach to the area between the baths and Merrion Gates, which will have to be crossed to access the site and remove debris. Without prejudice to the Council’s legal obligations and powers under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1964 (as amended), environmental consultants have been engaged to advise the Council regarding any potential environmental issues and to liase with other statutory agencies.
Security have been installed on the site pending the demolition work.
County Manager Owen Keegan said of the site’s future:
As part of the preparation of the Blackrock Local Area Plan, outline proposals are being prepared to make improvements to the seafront, including access at this location, having due regard to Specific Local Objective 9 (Map 2) in the County Development Plan. Subject to consultation with the site owners, consideration will be given to what can be done with the remainder of the baths structure and a report will be brought to councillors in due course.
A gallery of photographs of the baths is available on the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s website.
Did you go to Blackrock Baths before it closed? What are your memories of the place?
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I think they’ll be disappointed. Queen are not the same without Freddie Mercury.
@Manbackonboard: excellent
I feel sorry for the Queen.
What TF are Harry and Wills doing by agreeing to meet the Trumps? Surely they’re not obliged.
@Russel Steapot: Must be setting up the Royal family in the US now, it is a business?
@Russel Steapot: probably moral support for poor Grannie who has a deluge of crooked, ignorant Trumps, who’ve invited themselves, to cope with. That family have some neck!
One will need xanax with ones gin to cope
@emer caffrey: Trump’s all excited about the Royal wee…
@TamuMassif2019: Desending on him from a great height?
@Eamonn Ó Maoldomhnaigh:
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height
Height
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height
Height
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
That’s it, sir
You’re leaving
The crackle of pigskin
The dust and the screaming
The yuppies networking
The panic, the vomit
The panic, the vomit
lol.
I think they should just give Philip a free reign to say whatever he wants and then sit back and enjoy the show
@Olly Keegan: They should let him do the driving.
@Olly Keegan: That would make for excellent reality TV if they put a camera In the room
@Olly Keegan: Phillip’s driving them to the palace…
Hope she snubs the lot of them.
@Tom Kelly: One wealthy family from inheritance that doesn’t declare their tax meets another. One difference though is that the royals pr team bans them from exposing their real thoughts on social media!
Imagine if Prince Philip had a twitter account! That would be legendary.
@Shane Carroll: the royals don’t declare tax because they don’t pay tax. It’s difficult to declare zero
I wonder if Her Majesty will be able to keep up the facade when that reality TV bunch of riff raff comes to soil her carpet….
Probably worried about leaving them at home with creepy Joe biden .
@Pl O’neill: You mean Brett Kavanaugh!
@Orla Smith:. No he clearly stated Joe Boden. Is there something wrong with you?
@Enda Heff: He clearly didn’t state Joe Boden!!!
@Sorcha Ní Shúillekabháin: so the pretext of creepy changes the clarity is it?
@Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: No, but if you’re going to be so rude as to ask what’s wrong with someone else it would help to be right yourself!
@Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: *mic drop*
I don’t think he has figured it out yet
@Enda Heff: He clearly didn’t say David Hasselhof. Does that affect the context?
Oh God does that mean they are coming here too. Nooooo
Let loose the corgis…
@DJ François: with bees in the mouths and when they bark they shoot bees.
@DJ François: in case you missed it … all royal corgis are now ex- corgis. They’ve died out and Betty isn’t going to have any more.
A nice day out for Tiffany
@Dave O’Keeffe: haha so harsh
Is this really news?
The Grizwalls meet the Queen National Lampoon European vacation!
Wouldn’t be the first time the monarchy of the UK was sympathetic to a fascist.
@ianglen: Always Facists around in Central Europe .
A democratically elected head of state meeting an unelected head of state before he meets with an other head of state that inherited his position from his pals. Would I have that right or am I missing something
The Clampetts are coming to town!
Well he’s bringing the ones he knows about !
It’s going to be like a school outing.
@Patabake Kennedy: Who took a dump in the Queens handbag… Own up…
I didn’t think he was a adult never mind siring any such a thing
@FlopFlipU: Show the Queen what you do for Daddy lol.
I think three Queen will be so excited……not
He reckons he’s royalty most likely. Delusions or notions, or both
The Queen of England is head of Britain’s for over 60 years and its amazing no one ever voted for her..
@Marty from Sligo: No need when they have the BBC Propaganda machine working overtime.
What do you call a bunch of Trumps?????
@Kyle Mac Creddin: an intellectual black hole
@Kyle Mac Creddin: a degradation of Trumps?
Yeah.. don’t mind us, we just have hotels and golf courses.. moving on, next the United Kingdom… They speak the same language so it should not be hard ..
I thought you had to be invited by Her Majesty, that you couldn’t just rock up to the palace with all your family in tow. Could this be like a reverse Assange? They show up at Buckingham Palace and claim asylum?
(No offence meant to anyone who genuinely is seeking asylum)
@CharliesAngel: May invited him for a state visit just after he was elected.
Because they all have sore feet and Trump heard the Queen has Footmen lol.
The Von Trappe family meets the Queen
Is Stormy Danials going also… Will the video be on sale after visit.. Asking for a friend.
He is a multi billionaire so that should be no problem.
Like a pack of……..
Oh I hope Charles and the boys have a great talk about climate change and the benefits of wind power.
have your say