Big Blackrock Survey Results!
The results of the Big Blackrock Survey are now available! We had hoped to launch the results at a social and information meeting to allow businesses and residents to hear first hand what nuggets of information were unearthed. Because of Covid-19 this will not be possible for some time. We will of course, over the coming months, analyse and use this information to inform and guide us in our work to enhance and improve Blackrock Village. In the meantime we are setting below a sample of the findings which give some interesting pointers to how people are thinking and behaving in Blackrock. There were 556 respondents which by any measure is a very impressive response rate. Our sincere thanks to all those who took the time to complete the survey, but especially to Oisín Byrne and his team at iReach who very generously gave of their time and expertise to conduct this very useful and informative exercise.
Interesting findings! Some samples
- There were 556 respondents.
- Respondents were 68% female and 32% male
- 73% live in, or close to, Blackrock Village
- 88% rate studying/working in Blackrock as good or excellent
- Lack of parking (33%), lack of variety of shops (29%), and preferring to shopsomewhere else (20%) are the main reasons for not shopping more often in Blackrock Village.
- Lack of variety of restaurants (38%), lack of parking (20%), and preferring to eatsomewhere else (16%) are the main reasons for not eating out more often in Blackrock Village.
- Pharmacies (68%), Bookshops (54%), and Newsagents (42%) are the most common shops/services used in Blackrock.
- Pharmacies are the most common shop/service used across all demographics. Hairdresser (44%) is the third most common for females, and general business (41%) is the third most common for 50+.
- 78% visit Blackrock Market. Visitation rates are highest in the 35-49 (80%) and 50+ (85%) cohorts.
- Young people would most like to see films in the library (39%), sports clubs (37%), and more cycle paths (31%).
- Using parks (73%), visiting the library (53%), and using playgrounds (52%) are the three most popular activities engaged in by children.
- 91% (94% of males) think Blackrock is a good place for older people. 29% of seniors would like to attend a scheduled meet up every week or every month.
- Lack of infrastructure (47%) is the biggest reasons why respondents think Blackrock isn’t a good place for older people. Poor accessibility (22%), lack of amenities (22%), and lack of community (10%) were also reasons mentioned.
- A larger selection of retailers (50%), more restaurants and cafés (36%), and making Blackrock Village more family friendly (31%) are rated as the most important possible changes.
- Better access to the sea (64%), better view of the sea (46%), and better access to the park (43%) are the three most desired improvements around the DART area.
Respondents are most prepared to help out with community events (25%), tidy towns (21%), and visiting a hospice (19%).
Big Blackrock Survey – Voucher Winners!
Thank you to everybody who completed the survey. 5 respondents were the lucky winners of a €50 voucher for their efforts! Congratulations to them all! They were: Belinda Hamilton, Des Sherwin, Janet Carroll, Robert Finglas, Sandra Cummins.
Doorstep Market
This is an incredibly difficult time for many small, independent businesses in Ireland. The Doorstep Market has just been launched – a virtual market experience which will promote products and services from small, independent Irish businesses.
It will be a one stop shop for consumers who want to support these businesses through this crisis in whatever way they can, while also buying quality Irish products and services. Our message will be to stay home and shop local.
The platform will also have an online facility for ordering and payment, to enable those of you who do not have an online presence to get online quickly, easily and free of charge. It will also enable you to collaborate with other businesses on offers and deliveries.
You can now register for free on The Doorstep Market at https://www.thedoorstepmarket.ie/store-setup/
BLACKROCK PARK MASTERPLAN
BB&CN SUBMISSION
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council want to create a new Masterplan for Blackrock Park. This Masterplan hopes to establish a clear vision for how the park will be shaped into the future. It will guide changes in the short to long term and ensure a holistic approach is adopted with any new interventions. DLRCoCo have been seeking submissions and the consultation closed on 12 April 2020.
The BBN has made a submission and considers that it is important to recognise the following:
- The connection between Blackrock Park, Blackrock Village Core and Blackrock “Seafront Plaza” (ie. the area by the Dart station that has significant untapped potential). The interrelationships, connections and legibility between these three assets will be key to successfully realising the true potential of the Park.
- The S2S continues to make progress and any Masterplan for Blackrock should coherently engage with and take advantage of the planned S2S.
This County Plan submission builds on the Council’s agreed and approved Local Area Plan for the area and hence much of this content will also be relevant to the Blackrock Park Masterplan.
