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Olivia Mitchell Raises Concerns Over Trading At BallybodenOlivia Mitchell, TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Housing and Local Development has voiced her concern that the recurring problem of encampments at the Health Board facility at Ballyboden has highlighted once again the need for changes in he Law of trespass.
She said, 'Under existing law the Health Board, yet again, faces hefty court costs in order to obtain an injunction to regain posses-sion of its property. However in this case it is difficult to see how the trad-ing activities on the site are not infringing at least two existing laws. In normal cir-cumstances, the extensive trading in office equipment which is being carried out on the site would require a ca-sual trading licence from the local authority. Given the obvious dangers of carrying on a business on one of the city's busiest roundabouts, this activity must also be in contravention of the Road Traffic Acts.
Whatever about gaining re-possession of the site for the Health Board the gardai must move to put a stop to this trading which is endan-gering the lives of travellers, motorists and pedestrians alike.'
Coal Harbour Users Group Announces Special Meeting
All Dail deputies and Councillors in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area are to urged to attend a public meeting arranged by CHUG, the Coal Harbour Users Group in Dun Laoghaire on March 7th at 8pm.
The meeting in the Boylan Community Centre will discuss the latest devel-opments in CHUG's cam-paign to save Dun Laoghaire's old coal har-bour from being taken over by what CHUG describes as 'private commercial interests involved in the development of the town's new marina due to come into operation this year.
According to the Chairman of CHUG, Mr Noel Brien, the future of the boatyard, which has for decades been under public control and regularly used by small boat owners, sailing clubs, associations and fishermen as a public facility, is now 'quite clearly an important local political issue and one to be seriously addressed by all local politicians in these pre-election times.'
Mr Brien stressed that CHUG had no opposition to the marina itself but sought to ensure that the boatyard should not be swallowed up in its devel-opment. He said that the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company Ltd had declared that the coal harbour itself, the last remaining serviced outlet to Dublin Bay, was to remain under public con-trol.
'We are pleased at that decision but we want the same rule to apply to the boatyard. WE are utterly opposed to it being handed over willy nilly to an out and out private commer-cial company no matter what promises and under-takings they might cur-rently make,' he said. He attended he was con-fident the March meeting would be as well attended as the previous one in September had been.
Dance Theatre Of Ireland At Bloomfields
The Dance Theatre of Ireland which had been established for 10 years in Digges Lane in the city centre has recently re-located to purpose built facilities at Bloomfields shopping centre. The move was proposed when the centre was built, but it has taken until now to finalise everything that was needed to get it up and running.
The Digges Lane Studio which had seen Riverdance and Rudolf Nureyev dance its boards, had to close a few years ago. Since then the Dance Theatre put together a package of funding, ( with the support of the Arts Council, Ireland Fund and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council) to move to the present site.
It is now the permanent home to the Dance Theatre of Ireland, a professional dancing and touring company. Nevertheless, the company still find time to run a myriad of classes which are open to all to enjoy.
The studio is located on an upper floor at Bloomfields with a lift allowing access by disabled people. Alison Dooher, Company Manger says, 'As well as classes we have an extensive programme of dance workshops which are often done as support to performances around the county. Around 30,000 people have participated in a workshop since they first began.'
Several productions are done every year, which usually includes two totally new productions by the company. Loretta Yurick is co-founder of the company with her partner Robert Connor. To date the company has created over 10 full length ballets and 12 chamber works ( 30-40 minutes) touring to all major venues in Ireland and to major international dance festivals in London, Italy, Sweden and France.
Loretta says, 'Ten years on there are a lot more people dancing- it's a fun healthy social occupation. It's much more popular now with the advent of MTV.- dance has become a very big part of music.'The bright new studio is well light by skylights. The floor is a sprung Junkers floor with a rubber coating, designed to ease strain on feet. Changing facilities are also bright and modern. The classes offered really do cater for all people and all ages.
As well as classes a 'Dance hall course day' is offered for young people- during which they are exposed to all dance style and given a chance to make up and perform their own dances. Loretta says ' Our teachers are very good and we're open about taking people with no experience.' Classes are provided on Saturdays and evenings and the range includes salsa, modern, jazz and hip hop.
Loretta is very enthusiastic about the benefits of dance. She says, 'Dance can change peoples lives and make them open up and become more confident- the participatory effect is incredible. We also do Yoga classes- even some of our contemporary classes have elements of yoga. It's emotional training that integrates the body with the mind- things that dance also does.'
Dance Theatre of Ireland is located contacted in Bloomfields ( the entrance is beside the cinema).Tel 4544472
Dun Laoghaire Town Centre Improvement Scheme Nears Completion Of First Phase
The Dun Laoghaire Town Centre Improvement Scheme is nearing completition of it's first phase which is at the George's Street/ Library Road junction. This has involved all services beneath the road being replaced and a new road surface being applied. Resurfacing will shortly begin on the length of George's Street between Dunphy's pub and Patrick Street.
This will mean that vehicular access to Bloomfields and St Michael's hospital will be from the Library Road end of Georges's Street. When resurfacing along this length is completed, enlarged pavements will be added, surfaced with granite bricks.
The aim of the scheme, (which covers Georges St Lower from its junction with Library Rd to its junction with Marine Road, Georges Street Upper from its junction with Marine Road to its junction with Mulgrave St and Marine Road from its junction with George's St Upper to its junction with Eblana Avenue) is to upgrade pedestrian facilities and introduce traffic calming.
The first phase involves reducing the width of George's Street Lower, between Marine Road and the entrance to St Michael's Hospital and a one way traffic system introduced in a west bound direction ( ie towards Dublin ).
Speed reduction platforms will be introduced at the entrance and exits to the scheme. The road and footpath an George's Street Lower, between Marine Road and the entrance to St Michael's Hospital will be at one level with the road being designated by bollards and the use of block paviers on the road surface. Georges Street Lower, between the entrance to St Michael's Hospital and Library Road will remain two way.
Also a new roundabout will be constructed at the junction of Eblana Avenue and Marine Road. Only public service vehicles travelling south bound from the Crofton Road junction will be allowed beyond the roundabout.
Launch Of Loughlinstown Management Report
On Friday 23rd February, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Mary Elliott, launched the Loughlinstown Estate Management Report to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
Councillor Elliott stated estate management and the principles of estate management is the way Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will have to work with resident and tenant groups in the future. This partnership of Council, residents and tenants will also lead to increased levels of consultation and a better quality of life for the residents.
Councillor Elliott advised that the Council is committed to the ongoing development of Estate management and in this years estimates the Council for the first time allocated £100,000 towards the work of the Estate management fora. Councillor Elliott also announced that the fora will in future be supported in their work and development by the Community department. Both the Community and Housing Departments were complimented for their commitment to Estate management to date.
Since Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council was established, the Loughlinstown community have been one of the most active and committed in the County and have led the way in many aspects of community life. The Community Council was also central to the joint training initiative that led to the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Tenant and Resident Initiative Report.
Councillor Elliott complimented the volunteers on the Forum and the four area teams who worked on putting the report together and also wished the Forum all the best for the future in their new partnership with the Council.
Councillors Costello Questions Cost Over-runs At The Pavilion Theatre
The Pavilion Theatre which recently opened in Dun Laoghaire was esti-mated to cost £2.59 million in August 1997. The latest cost report dated March 2000 estimates a project cost of £3.43 million. According to the Council report the difference of £840,578 is caused by in-flation and variations to the contract which reflect de-cisions taken to improve the facility.
Councillor Eoin Costello asked if there would be further cost increases be-fore completition of the project. The Council stated that since March 2000 fur-ther variations of approxi-mately £250,000 have been agreed which mainly re-flect theatrical technical installations and the provi-sion of extra toilet facilities. According to Councillor Eoin Costello, it is hard to understand why toilets and essential technical instal-lations were not included in the original costings.
The theatre has a stage which is de- mountable and retractable seating, ensuring a wide range of programme options. Unfortunately, according to Councillor Costello, this flexibility does not extend to getting props and sets in and out. The design of the theatre provided for access to the rear of the building for personnel. During con-struction, it became appar-ent that the angular nature of the access would not allow trucks carrying sets and props to access the theatre and provision of alternative access has yet to be constructed. In re-sponse to a question from Councillor Costello, the Council reported that the provision of an improved access to the theatre is the final cost issue which needs to be determined. This work has not yet been costed.
Councillor Costello stated that given the cost over-runs and design deficien-cies, the council should seek a claw back of pro-fessional fees paid to the company who designed the theatre. He added that he was delighted that the capi-tal of our county finally had its own theatre but he re-mains concerned about the final cost.
Former Yeats Home In Danger
Olivia Mitchell has called on the Minister for Arts, Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to fund the pur-chase of Riversdale House in Rathfarnham.
'The preservation of this former Yeats home is now in extreme jeopardy follow-ing the serving of a purchase notice by the owner on South Dublin County Council. ef-fectively the only choice now facing the Local Authority is to either buy the house from the owner fro public use and conservation or grant a planning permission for de-velopment in the grounds. The decision about the fu-ture of the house will be im-posed by Bord Pleanala un-less the Council receives the funds from the Minister to respond positively to the Purchase Notice.'
'Riversdale is not only of cultural and historical value as a former home of W. B.. Yeats, but also as an early 18th century building which has been declared of archi-tectural heritage value by Duchas.'
'With the state coffers overflowing and the South Dublin urban landscape be-ing transformed by new building and road construc-tion the Minister responsi-ble for conservation must act now to save this small bit of our local history.'
VEC Proposes Educational Use For Blackrock Town Hall
At the VEC meeting on February 22nd, the CEO of the Dun Laoghaire VEC stated that the latest situation regarding the future of Blackrock Town Hall was that the County Council has offered a long lease to the VEC at the Blackrock Town Hall site, provided the Department Of Education backs the project following appraisal of costs.
Councillor Andrews stated, 'This comes at the end of more than a year of lobbying the Department Of Education and the decision of the Department to back the project has great benefits : The townhall as one of Blackrock's finest buildings will be preserved. It will be used for educational purposes, which has the support of the residents of the area, and will not increase parking problems in the area.
There is a great opportunity for Blackrock Library to be upgraded to sate of the art technology. Councillor Andrews commented, 'It is unlikely that the Department would pull out following appraisal given that there is clear support for the project.'
The next two phases of development are an architectural survey and a costing of works. It is at the end of those two phases that the Council would hand over the lease, so long as the Department approves the project at that stage. There will also be a period of public consultation. The meeting follows a survey conducted by Councillor Barry Andrews among Blackrock residents and business people on the desired future of the hall, which was conducted in January..
The survey results indicated huge support for it's use for educational purposes. All of the responses were in favour of the VEC proposals. Councillor Andrews said, 'One of the most clearly stated responses was the concern about the proliferation of offices in Blackrock. It is well known that Blackrock has serious parking difficulties at this moment because of the number of offices in the area. There is also a strong wish to retain and upgrade the library.'
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