Category Archives: Ward Development

Kieran’s Letter to Residents, Beaumont Water Tower Space & NTA Bus Connects, Phase 2 Plans, 19 May 2023

Cork History, Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

Dear Resident,

I hope this finds you well. The public consultation phase two maps on Bus Connects have now been published by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

As part of the phase two plans, a proposal has appeared to turn the interior of the historic 19th century walled garden space adjacent Cherrington, Ballinlough Pitch and Putt Club and Beaumont Park into a car park for the area. A number of residents in the past have expressed the view that such a space would make a fine community garden space, and should be rejuvenated as such. In recent years the project has even been developed to a point of a plan with Cork City Council.

The NTA proposal seeks public input on their idea to overturn the development of the community garden into a car park. It would be crucial that residents, who are in favour of retaining and developing the concept of the community garden, write to the NTA.

Wider info of the phase two maps and consultation can be viewed at www.busconnects/cork.

The full set of maps are available at www.busconnects/cork. Submissions should be made via that website or send a letter to “Bus Connects Cork, NTA, Suite 427, 1 Horgan’s Quay, Waterfront Square, Cork”.

As always, I remain at your disposal for any help on Bus Connects or any other local concerns.

Letter to Residents, Re: NTA Bus Connects, Phase 2 Public Consultation, Ballinlough & Douglas Road, 16 May 2023

Climate Action, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Development

(Letter being circulated to Ballinlough residents this week)

Dear Resident,

I hope this finds you well. The closing date for receipt of submissions for phase two of the public consultation by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on the Bus Connects Corridors is next Thursday 25 May.

My sincere thanks to all those who have made submissions todate and especially to the wider Douglas Road residents’ group and the various sub groups, including those across Ballinlough, who have liased with the NTA a number of times voicing not only concerns but also viable more sustainable alternatives.

Despite a series of alternatives by local residents being put forward, very little change has been made to the initial emerging proposals from the NTA on the proposed physical changes to the Douglas Road roadscape – which at its heart includes the widening of the road for over 1km – the destruction of a 1km of historic built heritage and visual character via compulsory purchase orders, reconstruction of nineteenth century stone walls, and culling of over km of mature trees and biodiversity.

As this is a general letter to all residents in Ballinlough, some effects on residents are larger than others. However, please note there are also plans to create bus gates, which will limit movement of cars on Douglas Road at peak hours. The latter will have a knock-on effect on school traffic, as it will be rerouted into Ballinlough in the morning and evening times. The current proposals also pitches the removal of on-street car parking along 95 per cent of Douglas Road (west to east).

It is crucial that as a local resident that you become aware of the still evolving proposals and make a submission if you are offering support, critique, and/or other solutions.

The full set of maps are available under the Maryborough Hill to City (bus corridor I) at www.busconnects/cork. Submissions should be made via that website or send a letter to “Bus Connects Cork, NTA, Suite 427, 1 Horgan’s Quay, Waterfront Square, Cork”.

As always I remain at your disposal for any help on Bus Connects or any other local concerns.

Sincerely,

__________________

Cllr Kieran McCarthy

Independent

McCarthy: “High End Heritage Vandalism” at heart of Douglas Road Plans, 10 May 2023

Cork History, Kieran's Council Work, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Development

“High End Heritage vandalism” is how Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has described the proposals by the National Transport Authority (NTA) for Douglas Road. In recent weeks, the public consultation phase two maps on Bus Connects have been published by NTA. They contain compulsory purchase orders for the culling of half a kilometre of front garden biodiversities and the reconstruction of nineteenth century stone walls, the elimination of ninety per cent of on street car parking, and the creation of bus gates, which will limit cars entering Douglas Road at peak hours in the morning and in the late afternoon.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “My sincere thanks to all those who have made submissions todate and especially to the wider Douglas Road residents group and the various sub groups extending all the way out through Douglas Village through to Maryborough Hill, who have liased with the NTA a number of times voicing not only concerns but also viable alternatives”.

“From what I have seen affected local residents on Douglas Road have received letters from the NTA but those slightly off the road have not. So a lot of people are in the dark, both who live on the road and those who use the road. The NTA animations that have been created don’t tell the full story of the destruction in particular of historic walls and trees”.

“Some impacts on residents are larger than others. To me the reconstruction of built and environmental heritage is high end heritage vandalism. The bus gate concept needs further traffic data as traffic will be re-routed into the heart of areas such as Well Road and Ballinlough at peak times, and access to schools on Douglas Road could be non existent. If you park on the road, it is really important to make oneself aware of the plans to take away car-parking. There are so many concerns, which need answers. It is crucial that if you are a user of Douglas Road in all its forms that you become aware of the plans and ask questions and provide criticisms and/or alternatives”, concluded Cllr Kieran McCarthy.

The full set of maps are available under the Maryborough Hill to City (bus corridor I) at www.busconnects/cork or get in contact with Cllr McCarthy. Contact details are on his website at www.kieranmccarthy.ie

NTA Bus Connects, Phase 2 Public Consultation, Douglas Road, 13 April 2023

Cork City Events, Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

The public consultation phase two maps on Bus Connects have now been published by the National Transport Authority (NTA). It is my understanding that affected local residents on Douglas Road have received letters from the NTA but those slightly off the road have not.

My sincere thanks to all those who have made submissions todate and especially to the wider Douglas Road residents group and the various sub groups, who have liased with the NTA a number of times voicing not only concerns but also viable alternatives.

Despite a series of alternatives being put forward, very little change has been made to the initial emerging proposals from the NTA on the physical changes to the roadscape – which includes compulsory purchase orders, culling of front garden biodiversities and the reconstruction of nineteenth century stone walls.

As this is a general letter to all residents on the road, some affects on residents are larger than others. However, please note there are also plans to create bus gates, which will limit movement of cars on the road at peak hours and there is also the removal of on-street car parking along 95 per cent of the road (west to east).

It is crucial that as a local resident that you become aware of the still evolving proposals and attend the upcoming info meeting if you have questions, criticisms and/or alternatives.

The full set of maps are available under the Maryborough Hill to City (bus corridor I) at www.busconnects/cork. Info can also be attained from the NTA at their open day meeting at Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday 21 April 10am-7pm.

NTA Bus Connects, Mangala Bridge & Shamrock Lawn Phase 2 Plans, 12 April 2023

Cork City Events, Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

The public consultation phase two maps on Bus Connects have now been published by the National Transport Authority (NTA). It is my understanding that affected local residents have received letters from the NTA.

My sincere thanks to all those who made submissions to the NTA voicing not only concerns but viable alternatives.

The upshot of the phase one consultation has led to the complete removal of a proposal for a bridge over the Mangala, which included a compulsory purchase order of the Grange Avenue green buffer strip with Grange Road.

What now just remains in the phase 2 maps is a proposal to set back the main entrance to Shamrock Road, to allow the bus to flow freer (see attached map over the page). There are still some questions on whether older trees will be kept or not in this location.

Wider info of the phase two maps can be viewed at www.busconnects/cork or at the NTA open day meeting for the phase 2 plans at Nemo Rangers, South Douglas Road on Thursday 20 April, 10am-7pm.

My thanks again to all who engaged with the Bus Connects process. I also remain at your disposal for any help with any other local concerns.

NTA Bus Connects, Removal of Well Road from Phase 2 Plans, 11 April 2023

Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Development

The public consultation phase two maps on Bus Connects have now been published by the National Transport Authority (NTA). It is my understanding that affected local residents have received letters from the NTA.

My sincere thanks to all those who made submissions to the NTA voicing not only concerns but viable alternatives.

The upshot of the phase one consultation for Well Road has led to the complete removal of proposals for the road, which included compulsory purchase orders of many front gardens, stone wall reconstruction, and associated tree and biodiversity culling.

Wider info of the phase two maps can be viewed at www.busconnects/cork or at the NTA open day meeting for the phase 2 plans at Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday 21 April, 10am-7pm.

Bus Connects & Boreenmana Road, 10 April 2023

Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

The public consultation phase two maps on Bus Connects have now been published by the National Transport Authority (NTA). It is my understanding that affected local residents have received letters from the NTA.

My sincere thanks to all those who made submissions and especially to the wider Boreenmanna Road residents group, who liased with the NTA a number of times voicing not only concerns but also viable alternatives.

The upshot of the phase one consultation has led to a large number of changes, which in particular keep 95 per cent of the road’s tree line and remove the need for 95 per cent of proposed compulsory purchase orders.

The revised drawings have the following elements:

  1. Majority of public trees retained.
  2. CPO properties significantly reduced.
  3. Staggered & dedicated bus lane in certain places along Boreenmanna road. Meaning, sections of the Boreenmanna Road have 1 bus lane in parts and 2 bus lanes in other sections. It is this way because it causes less damage to the area.
  4. Ballinlough park untouched.
  5. Bike lanes where feasible (both directions) are positioned on north side of the road.
  6. Significant off-street parking lost due to bus lane and/or bike lanes.
  7. Toucan crossing (pedestrian & cyclist shared crossing) located in multiple locations.
  8. Bottom of Crab Lane large foot path to be reduced to facilitate some off street parking.
  9. Rockboro school entrance to be changed to help reduce congestion.
  10. Between Rockboro entrance and end of row of homes, there is expected to be dedicated off street parking.
  11. Water works (by pitch & putt club) enclosed area is investigated for provision of car park spacing. This area for many years has been proposed by local residents as a community garden.

The full set of maps are available under the Mahon to City (bus corridor J) at www.busconnects/cork. Info can also be attained from the NTA at their open day meeting at Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday 21 April 10am-7pm.

Cllr McCarthy: People Power Continues to take on NTA’s Bus Connects, 4 April 2023

Climate Action, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Development

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has noted it has been people power, which has led to changes to the National Transport Authority’s Cork Bus Connects project phase 1. Cllr McCarthy has now called on affected local residents to continue their engagement with the phase 2 of round of public consultation.

The National Transport Authority’s second phase of public consultation will run from 30 March until 25 May 2023. The latest round of public consultation centres on the Preferred Route Options are available to view on the Cork Bus Connects website.

View: Cork | Busconnects

Following the first round of public consultation, the NTA has been reviewing the almost 3,000 submissions made by the public and engaging constructively with 35 residents’, business and special interest groups across the city. Community Forums were also established for each corridor to enable a two-way dialogue with local communities to help inform the review process.

Cllr McCarthy noted:

“It has been a very long nine months in my local area as local residents worried about the results of the NTA consultation. The array of climb downs on proposed changes to local roads is to be welcomed. In Douglas and Ballinlough, the original proposals involved mass tree destruction of road side trees along Boreenmanna Road and urban forestry in the Mangala as well as vast CPO-ing of property across a number of local roads including Well Road. During last summer I was vocal that many of the proposals could be described as environmental vandalism.

I had so many impacted residents highly worried that their neighbourhoods would become wide motorways devoid of biodiversity and taking large chunks of their front gardens. My sincere thanks to the many residents’ groups who formed and lobbied for effective change, compromise and alternatives in the proposals. Great credit is due to their energy and effort.

The nature of Douglas Road’s future landscape is still in limbo. Residents and I still have concerns over the proposed half a kilometre of dismantling of historic stone wall and clearing largescale road side biodiversity.  I call on the NTA to listen to resident’s alternatives and to rethink about the large scale destruction of the road’s heritage. It is also highly important that affected residents attend the upcoming public consultation meetings and express their concerns”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.

Cllr McCarthy: More Communication essential between NTA and Resident Groups on Bus Corridors, 10 March 2023

Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Development, Ward Events

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for more consistent and meaningful communication between the NTA and Residents Groups. Proposals for 12 Sustainable Transport Corridors including Maryborough Hill to Douglas Road for BusConnects Cork were published in June 2022 as part of the first round of public consultation. The consultation closed in early October last year.

Following the first round of public consultation, the NTA has been reviewing the almost 3,000 submissions made by the public. The BusConnects Cork team has also met with 33 residents’ and business groups across the city since summer 2022 with meetings ongoing. The  engagement process has resulted in a number of revisions and alternatives to the initial proposals and these will inform part of the next round of public consultation for people’s feedback.

However Cllr Kieran McCarthy has noted that some of the feedback has been haphazard; “I am hearing that some residents groups in the Douglas area have had multiple meetings and others have had none. The communication process must be consistent. We will entering phase 2 of the public consultation process in early April and it important that compromises and alternatives, where relevant are actually discussed and explored – otherwise the consultation element is just a tick the box action”. 

“I remain deeply worried for the built and natural heritage of several areas of the NTA plans. The decision to omit the bridge proposal over the Mangala is welcome but the thought of kilometres of trees and garden space being ripped out along route ways such as Douglas Road, Boreenmanna Road and Well Road is very worryingly indeed. Hence why meaningful dialogue is very important between stakeholders”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.

Kieran’s Question to CE and Motions, Cork City Council meeting, 13 February 2023

Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

Question to the CE: 

To ask the CE about the mechanisms in place to combat homelessness this winter in the city? 

How many homelessness cases on the streets in the last weekend of January 2023? 

Are their beds available for all homelessness at this point in time in the city (early February 2023)? 

How many emergency accommodation units? 

To ask for the breakdown of finance given to housing homeless agencies in the city in 2022 and proposed expenditure to agencies in 2023? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy). 

Motions:   

That a root and branch assessment be made on the pedestrian safety around the new Douglas-Rochestown Educate Together School on the old Carrigaline Road and appropriate safety measures be acted upon (Cllr Kieran McCarthy). 

 That the name John Swiney, one of the core leaders in Cork of the United Irishmen in 1798, be inscribed on the 1798 panel on the National Monument on the Grand Parade (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).  

To get a report on the status of the playground space at the Old Cork Waterworks Experience being returned to Cork City Council from Irish Water (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).  To add Lisnalee Drive, Ballintemple, to the re-surfacing estates list of the south east local electoral area (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).