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engineering.
The Bray Train Station was built on the dividing line
between properties owned by the La Touche family of Bellvue
House (now in ruin) and the Hawkins-Whitshed family of
Killincarrig House, which is now Greystones Golf Club.
From the latter half of the 19th century, Greystones
underwent development and saw many housing estates going
up around Church Road, Victoria Road and Trafalgar Road.
Between 1885 and 1897, the citizens of Greystones campaigned
for a harbor, which would aid not only the fishing industry,
but also for better managing imports, such as coal. A
pier, dock, seawall and boat slip were eventually constructed
and remain today, though over time have sustained damage,
including coastal erosion, which is still a problem today.
In 1968, the foundations of the old Kish Lighthouse was
added to the end of the pier.
As vehicles and petrol became more affordable to Ireland's
growing economy, the rail system in Greystones began to
suffer. By the early 1980s, government cutbacks saw a
reduction of rail service into the village to just a few
trains per day. But by the late 1990s, the seafront commuter
service saw the arrival of an electrified train called
the DART, Dublin Area Rapid Transit, which offers a more
frequent schedule for workers getting into Dublin City.
And along with this rapid rail service has come an increased
popularity in Greystones and the need for added housing,
as people move farther away from the city to find more
affordable homes.
There is currently a €300 million redevelopment
scheme for the harbor. This is a major issue with the
citizens of Greystones, as the scheme includes a new harbor,
341 apartments, a 230 berth marina, new public plaza and
facilities for local sporting clubs. Many of the objections
include increased coastal erosion, to which the recommendation
by the developers was to annually dump 12,000 tons of
gravel in a process called "beach nourishment."
Objections continue to be filed, even though construction
on the redevelopment has begun.
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