Campaign established to defend Dublin Bay

A drive to try to protect Dublin Bay from unwanted development and privatisation was launched on Sunday, June 18th, on Sandymount Strand.

The Greater Dublin Bay Alliance (GDBA) includes residents’ associations and environmental groups from Greystones to Balbriggan. It was formed after the Save our Seafront campaign in 2005. This was against the re-development of Dun Laoghaire baths.
The group is to ask Minister for the Environment Dick Roche for representation on the new Dublin Bay Association. This group was set up to draw up a master plan for the body.

They are also looking to make the coastal corridor around the bay an amenity area with limited development.
They are concerned over plans to develop Bulloch Harbour in Dalkey, Carlisle Pier in Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock Baths. There are also plans to develop the harbour at Greystones and the Poolbeg Peninsula. These include plans for a waste incinerator.
The alliance is backing Clontarf residents in their opposition to plans for a 52-acre infill. They say that because of this, coastal erosion and flooding will deteriorate.

Evelyn Cawley, of the Greystone Protection and Development Association and one of the GDBA co-ordinators, indicated the importance of conciliation.
“We don’t want something imposed on us – we want to be part of the process, to be genuinely consulted,” she said.