Rising inflation and higher costs could put projects including the revamp of Bray Harbour at risk, local councillors have been told.
uring an update on the proposed rejuvenation of the harbour area, Cllr Grace McManus asked how inflation could affect the project and if the amount of funding allocated is sufficient.
District Engineer Liam Bourke said the district has noticed that prices have increased on tenders submitted, though the impact remains unclear.
He said long term projects including at Bray Harbour are at risk due to rising costs.
Consultants working on the project have been unable to complete a costs review of the project requested earlier in the year, due to economic instability. The district is anticipating there could be issues in the future as a result.
Mr Bourke said consultants are working on environmental reports and will also prepare models of the proposed works at the harbour for the public consultation.
A further meeting is to take place with the consultants to ensure that the community and business benefits of the project have been fully outlined. This is required because URDF funding has been allocated to the project.
Responding to a query from Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Mr Bourke said the local authority are considering a compulsory purchase order process (CPO) for the foreshore.
The CPO would be submitted to An Bord Pleanala to consider at the same time as the planning application.
While consent would have to be obtained from the Department of Housing, Mr Bourke said this process may be quicker than applying for a foreshore licence.
Cllr Joe Behan suggested the district should consider installing a skate park as part of the development of the harbour area.
This could be constructed on either public or privately owned lands. Cllr Behan suggested people moving into new residential units would already be aware of the presence of a skate park before they move in.
Mr Bourke said there is limited land in public ownership at the harbour and demand from existing users for more space. A skate park could not be easily accommodated in the area.
Cllr Behan suggested a skate park could be included as part of proposals to develop the wider harbour area. He argued the inclusion of a skate park would be more practical than in an existing residential area.
Cllr Flynn Kennedy said she would welcome a site for a second skate park in Bray and the town could accommodate two skate parks due to its size.
Mr Bourke said there is limited scope to develop a skate park in the area, though he could raise the question with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which owns lands to the north of Bray Harbour.
Cllr Anne Ferris said she chairs the Bray Harbours Users Committee and would mention the idea of a skate park. However, she was not sure there are lands available at the harbour to provide this facility.
District Manager Lorraine Gallagher said she does not believe there is scope to provide a skate park on the available public lands at the harbour as the priority is existing users.
Cllr Erika Doyle noted that the proposed public realm works at the harbour are limited. A skate park may only be feasible if provided on private land in the area.
