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Badeschiff, a pool placed within the Spree river, in Berlin - a project that Dun Laoghaire would like to emulate. Torsten Seidel

Dún Laoghaire to get floating swimming pool and urban beach

Fancy a swim in the Harbour?

RESIDENTS OF DÚN Laoghaire can now start to imagine themselves floating in a specially-designed pool within the town’s harbour.

The Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is, this morning, launching a public consultation on the development, which will also include two urban beaches.

Based on the Badeschiff project in Berlin, where bathers can swim in a floating pool within the river Spree, the so-called Masterplan was published two years ago. The first urban beach will be situated at Berth 1, adjacent to the East Pier.

The consultation being launched today aims to inform a planning application for the facility. The company behind the plan hope to submit the application later this year.

If approved, the pool and beach could be operational by 2015.

The Harbour Company says the project could attract 140,000 visitors per year, generating €1 million to the local economy every 12 months.

The pool, designed on a converted river barge, would contain heated and treated seawater. The barge would also house a second urban beach.

Changing and toilet facilities, a café, an administration area, and entrance and security features are also included in the plans.

The admission price to the area will probably be about the same as that of a cinema ticket, according to those behind the operation.

“It is intended that the new facility will act as a significant public amenity and tourist attraction, and will create a hub of activity within the Harbour,” said Operations Manager Tim Ryan.

“We are putting this project out to public consultation over the next four weeks so that all interested members of the public – including local residents and businesses, the sailing community, public representatives, and tourism organisations – can offer their views and recommendations on our proposals. The responses received from stakeholders will help inform the development of the project.”

The overall cost of the project is expected to be about €2.5 million but, once operational, it is envisaged that the facility will be self-financing.

image

Bathers enjoy a swim at the Badeschiff, a pool placed within the Spree river, in Berlin – a project that Dun Laoghaire would like to emulate. (Maya Hitij/AP/Press Association Images)

(YouTube: rawarchitecture)

The consultation is open from now until Friday, 27 September. Submissions can be made by post to: Urban Beach Design Team, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Harbour Lodge, Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire,  or by email to consultation@dlharbour.ie.

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    Mute Billy Edwards
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    Apr 16th 2012, 10:01 AM

    That Credit Union thing is a MASSIVE story, and one that needs to be shouted from the rooftops. HALF of the adults with less than 25 quid a week for themselves? That affects EVERYONE-every business in the country. It is a national emergency, and the Dail should do nothing else but discuss it and come up with a plan, before we all go under.

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    Apr 16th 2012, 9:12 AM

    I am not surprised that people are struggling to pay their bills, and they really are, and the scumbags in the dail should realise this, and come out of their ivory towers now, it is time to face the people, and work with the people, and the government can no longer hide from the realities, otherwise it is only a mater of time until FG and labour fall. The people cannot take anymore, and they have demonstrated this in the marches and protests, that have taken part in March and April, and the government should take notice and do something about the state of the country and now would be a good time.

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    Apr 16th 2012, 10:29 AM

    Is anyone else having trouble opening up the individual articles? I haven’t been able to open the Children’s hospital or Norway Killing stories..

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    Mute Con Ó Domhnaill
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    Apr 16th 2012, 12:35 PM

    You are not alone Andrea – Mary Harney and James Reilly haven’t been able to open the Children’s hospital either!

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    Mute Con Ó Domhnaill
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    Apr 16th 2012, 12:32 PM

    Friends of mine were turned down for a loan from their Credit Union even though they were regular savers. The husband was offered a driving job and they needed just a few thousand Euro to buy and insure a small car. They were told to re-apply in six months. So they had no option but to go to Moneylenders – who are charging them a massive 67% interest. For a lot of people bank loans are impossible to get, their only realistic chance of getting a loan is from their Credit Union, so if the Credit Union’s are now shutting the door in people’s faces the moneylenders will be rubbing their hands.

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    Apr 16th 2012, 12:26 PM

    We had problems getting on to the 9 a 9 page!! and this is the 2nd attempt at posting this comment!!

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