Tom Doyle :: TALK

The much anticipated Florentine Centre in Bray, Co. Wicklow has been a controversial development for sometime now in Bray. Not only did Bray Town lose a huge amount of parking space for the last few years, it has also been an incredibly ugly eye sore for the town of Bray.

In recent months there has been the announcement that Ballymore simply don’t have the shillings to complete the project, stating that major investors had pulled out of the project. So only last week they announced that the site will no longer be a host of shops and apartments, but will now have two shops and a replacement car park.

In press release from the Bray Chamber of Commerce, they announced that they would have the car park in place by Christmas. Yippee!!

So I guess all we have to wait on now is the development of “Bray Town Centre” - of course another objection has been placed, so that is on hold until November at least.

Anyway, here’s the press release from the Bray Chamber of Commerce:

“Bray & District Chamber welcomes the commencement of work by Ballymore on the Florentine site this week. Bray Chamber representatives met with officials from Ballymore on Tuesday 5th August. The purpose of the meeting was to call on Ballymore to publish in detail their proposed plans for the Florentine Centre in particular plans regarding Car Parking on the site.

In the course of the meeting Bray Chamber received assurances from Ballymore that the Car Parking facilities would be reinstated in time for the Christmas period with work commencing week 11th August and work on the two new Shops facing onto Bray Main Street, starting on 18th August.

Bray Chamber understands that this is phase 1 of the initial development and are aware that full development of the original plans won’t go ahead. While this is a disappointment, Bray Chamber will continue to work with all concerned to ensure an appropriate development will be sought for the site.
.
In the meantime, Bray Chamber President, Mr Eugene Finnegan has stated that the prospect of having 240 new parking spaces in the heart of the town centre and available for Christmas, will be an exciting aspect to the promotion of Bray as a Christmas shopping destination.

Bray Chamber and representatives from Ballymore have agreed to meet on a regular basis.”