Approximately 40% of the public lighting network of 25,000 lanterns including those in the Douglas area have now been fitted with LED lanterns according to Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy.
In 2022 alone Cork City Council has upgraded 2,500 lanterns (approx. 10%) from old “SON/SOX” lanterns to LED. In addition, a dimming profile, where lanterns are dimmed to 75% output from midnight onwards, in also in operation on some street lights.
A combination of the above interventions has resulted in a reduction of the energy used powering public lighting in the City. In relation to Energy Reduction, Cork City Council have identified the need to change public lighting lanterns to LEDs to help reduce the energy consumption related to the provision of this service.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “As part of the Council’s tendered public lighting annual maintenance contract works, a small percentage of lights are converted to LED annually. The Public Lighting Department of the Operations Directorate is preparing further proposals in terms of a Public Lighting Strategy to tackle legacy electrical issues, old public lighting column issues and the replacement of the remaining old SON/SOX lanterns and converting them to LED. The delivery of this strategy will be subject to securing the required funding for this replacement project”.
To ask the CE on an update on the current management arrangements for public lighting in the city, and in particular what climate action measure are being taken and what contractors are being engaged with? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy).
Reply:
The Public Lighting Framework adopted 2021 by the City Council identifies three strategic pillars with regards to the provision of public lighting: • Asset management • Service provision • Energy reduction. In relation to Energy Reduction, Cork City Council have identified the need to change public lighting lanterns to LEDs to help reduce the energy consumption related to the provision of this service. As part of our tendered public lighting annual maintenance contract works a small percentage of lights are converted to LED annually. Additional funding, to accelerate the changeover of 1,000 additional old SON/SOX lanterns to LED, was put in place mid-2022 and this accelerated programme will be implemented over a 12-month period.
As a result of this incremental approach, at the end of October 2022, approximately 40% of the public lighting network has been fitted with LED lanterns. In 2022 alone Cork City Council has upgraded 2,500 lanterns (approx. 10%) from old SON/SOX lanterns to LED. In addition, a dimming profile, where lanterns are dimmed to 75% output from midnight onwards, in also in operation on some street lights. A combination of the above interventions has resulted in a reduction of the energy used powering public lighting in the City, dropping from 95.87watts to 84.59 watts in 2022 alone.
The Public Lighting Department of the Operations Directorate is preparing further proposals in terms of a Public Lighting Strategy to tackle legacy electrical issues, old public lighting column issues and the replacement of the remaining old SON/SOX lanterns and converting them to LED. The delivery of this strategy will be subject to securing the required funding for this replacement project.
David Joyce, Director of Services, Roads & Environment Operations Directorate
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has welcomed Cork City Council’s proposed junction safety works on Carrigaline Road between lower Maryborough Woods and Berkley estate, and calls on local people with issues or concerns to engage with the consultation process.
Cork City Council proposes to provide a shared cycle track on the western side of the distributor road within Berkeley to the junction with Carrigaline Road and through to the distributor road within Maryborough Woods. This shared space will provide a safe route for cyclists from Ballybrack Walkway Phase 3 and the proposed Ballybrack Walkway Phase 4 through Berkeley to the Carrigaline Road and into Maryborough Woods.
The main elements of the proposed works are; Provision of a 3m shared cycle facility connecting Ballybrack Phase 3 in Berkeley to Maryborough Woods. The length of this shared facility is approximately 160m; Footpaths in Berkeley and Carrigaline Road adjacent the scheme will be upgraded to 2m; There are new proposed zebra crossings to facilitate a safe crossing point for both pedestrians and cyclists while also slowing vehicles for added safety; Modification to kerbs and road widths to accommodate proposed cycling infrastructure; And new road marking and signage.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “There is quite a number of small footpath widths in this area – so making the immediate area pedestrian friendly and creating pedestrian crossings are welcome. On any given day, the traffic moves at speed through the area. With the opening of the new school shortly nearby, there will be much more pedestrians on local footpaths. It is also not envisaged to take any treeline. It is important though that local residents are aware of the proposals”.
Any observations in relation to this proposal should be made electronically through https://consult.corkcity.ie or forwarded in an envelope marked “Active Travel Improvement Works Maryborough Woods to Berkeley, Douglas” to Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Development, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork. Final date for submissions is 5pm on Monday, 28 November 2022.
Image: Proposed path to be destroyed at Ballybrack Woods, Douglas to facilitate bridge proposal from Grange Road to Carrigaline Road (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Dear Bus Connects Team,
As a public representative for the south east of Cork City and having two and a quarter bus corridors in my area, it’s difficult to know where to start with my representation.
At the outset I do acknowledge the need for improving the city’s public transport. Indeed, I was one of the core political members, who connected the European Commission to Cork City with regard to the Horizon Europe mission of being 100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030. So, I am acutely aware of the steep uphill journey the city has to travel to be climate neutral and to work closely between the public and all the stakeholders involved to make sure a strong partnership is maintained.
To be honest at this moment in time I see a very fragmented partnership between the general public and the stakeholders involved in Cork Bus Connects. That partnership and dialogue seriously needs to improve if this epic project is going to get across the line.
To begin with in early July the scatter gun communication to the public via unsigned two-page documents, circulated in a hit and miss way to directly affected houses especially those whose gardens may be part of a CPO process, led to much mistrust and much frustration of the consultation process. Mistrust and frustration has led to further mistrust and frustration. So yes, there is a sense of “you are taking my land” in many cases but moreover there is a case of “you are not reaching out enough to me”.
Coupled with that I have found that the multitude of people who have contacted me unable to read the series of produced maps and unable to digest the many devils in the detail of the different corridors. In effect, I have spent three months in a continuous loop trying to get information to local people via flyering, knocking on doors and hosting a multitude of public meetings – many on the side of affected roads.
Having a public consultation in mid-July led to many local people just becoming aware of the proposals when they came back from holidays in early September. The obligatory ads on bus stops and in newspaper gave nothing of the depth of the detail in the proposals. The info meetings in Nemo Rangers and the subsequent for the bus corridors in my area led to further feedback around the lines of the NTA “don’t know what they are doing”. The engineers who were present were not briefed enough on how to temper the public frustration. So, I remain adamant in my call for the communication team to resign or be completely overhauled.
I have received some positive feedback from the zoom meetings, but the overall feedback I am getting is that because of the scale of the proposals, the NTA should have offices in the heart of affected communities, so people can meet people face to face as these dramatic proposals are being negotiated over the next two years. It is not good enough that the process is being conducted from board rooms of sorts in Dublin. If the NTA are really serious about Bus Connects Cork in Ireland’s second city, the need for a publicly accessible office is crucial.
The various compulsory purchase order proposals are of serious concern to all my constituents and the amount of these proposals is a high price to pay for the implementation of Cork Bus Connects. Having a good garden is a core historical part of suburban design in Cork through the past few decades. Coupled with that the stone encircling walls are unique as well the trees and hedgerows. The overall proposal to remove over 1,000 trees between Ballinlough, Douglas and Grange is high handed environmental vandalism at its worst and I what I deem a very serious attack on Cork’s historic suburban sense of place and quality of life. I acknowledge that there would be replacement but would take several years for said replacement trees to catch on and ecosystems to catch on.
Indeed, even the thought of 1,000 trees literally being culled has emotionally upset many people by the vision of an almost urban ruinous tree landscape. In an age where trees, biodiversity and wildlife are core aspects of National, regional and local climate action plans, the proposal pitch, for example, to build a bridge across Ballybrack Woods or the Mangala is very disappointing. That this is deemed a proposal has painted a picture to many of my constituent of lack of caring of the importance of ecology and biodiversity to a suburb such as Douglas or to Cork City. The same sentiment could be applied to the proposals to wipe out biodiversity along Douglas Road, Boreenmanna Road and Well Road.
There is a very clear worry on the removal of on-street car parking, which needs a lot more public consultation.
There are many devils in the detail of Cork Bus Connects. I sincerely ask a way improved partnership with the general public. I ask that a detailed response be given to each maker of a submission, and a complete over haul of the communication process. The current mistrust and frustration, even anger needs to be negotiated with empathy and fairness for all involved.
30 September 2022, “Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said: ‘The tree line on Boreenmanna Rd in particular is incredible. It’s quite beautiful at autumn time and it would be an environmental travesty if those trees were actually cut down’ “, Road-widening plans prompt ribbon protest on Boreenmanna Road, Road-widening plans prompt ribbon protest on Boreenmanna Road (echolive.ie)
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy calls on householders with concerns on the proposed BusConnects route from Maryborough Hill through to Douglas Road across Boreenmanna Road and Well Road to make submissions to the consultation process by Monday 3 October on Cork BusConnects.ie.
BusConnects Cork aims to enhance the capacity and potential of the public transport system. It will support the delivery of a low carbon and climate-resilient public transport system in addition to greatly improving accessibility to jobs, education whilst playing a key role in regeneration and improvements to public realm and City Centres.
Cllr McCarthy noted; “The plan is ambitious but proposes dramatic changes to the roadscape in order to future proof public transport across the city. I continue to receive a lot of calls and emails from locals asking for City Council members to intervene but on this enormous set of plans, the democratic powers of local Council members have been dismissed, and the National Transport Authority is now the key decision maker.
“If local residents have questions, they can still contact me. I have heard from many local residents who have concerns on the widening of Douglas Road, Boreenmanna Road, Well Road and Grange Road. It is crucial that those who live along these roads and who are still not unaware of the plans that they log onto Cork BusConnects website and come up to speed with proposals to take strips of front garden space, tree corridors and on-street car-parking”, detailed Cllr McCarthy.
Cllr McCarthy also organised a number of public meetings on the National Transport Authority proposal to place a 20 metre wide bridge to facilitate bus and cars over Ballybrack Woods from Donnybrook Hill to Maryborough Woods as part of the Grange to Douglas Bus Corridor. Cllr McCarthy noted: “This is a shocking act of environmental vandalism. Yes there is a need to improve the nature of public transport in the city and in the south east of the city but not at the expense of demolishing half a woodland to do it”.
Extract from letter to residents in Shamrock Lawn and along Grange Road:
Several local residents have been in contact with me regarding the seriousness of the Mangala Bridge proposal and the widening of the Grange Road proposal, which are proposals, which lay in the hands of the National Transport Authority (NTA) – and are not voted upon by the elected members of Cork City Council.
As part of the NTA’s Kinsale Road to Douglas Bus Corridor proposal, a 20 metre wide bridge is being proposed over the Ballybrack stream valley from Donnybrook Hill to the Carrigaline Road. The proposed bridge for buses, cars and bicycles over the green space would take out huge sections of Ballybrack Woods – possibly over 50 %.
A second proposal is to bring the Grange Road boundary 4-5 metres closer to houses fronting onto the road including Shamrock Close, Shamrock Drive and Grange Avenue – to eliminate the current tree line and to replant trees at new locations along the proposed new road.
I know how much the Mangala space is used and cherished by the local population as well as the Grange Road boundary.
The main website is www.busconnects.ie/cork/ where the different bus corridor proposals can also be viewed. P.46 of the Kinsale Road to Douglas proposed bus corridor has the colour version of the map I have copied on the back of the letter.
I have also posted a short film on YouTube outlining the areas effected; search for “Save Ballybrack Woods”.
Please make an online submission on Bus Connects Cork at www.busconnects.ie/cork/ or by pen. Be honest and write about how you feel about the proposal.
In light of the seriousness of the proposals and the many queries I am getting from local residents, I will host an information meeting on this Thursday evening, 25 August, 6.30-7pm on Inchvale Road green, next to the entrance to St Columbas Schools where further queries can be asked.
NTA Mangala Bridge proposal, July 2022Site of Mangala Bridge, present day (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Cllr McCarthy noted: “In the last few weeks Cork City Council has been successful in its bid to a Central Government Road safety scheme to implement measures at the junctions adjacent Our Lady of Lourdes School. The provision of funding is very positive and responds to much public and local political pressure over many years to make the junctions safer”.
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy warmly welcomes proposals now out to public consultation for road safety measures at the junctions of Bellair Estate, Ballinlough Road and Wallace’s Avenue. The proposals include the construction of two table top raised areas at the junctions of Bellair Estate and Ballinlough Road, and Wallace’s Avenue with Ballinlough Road, respectively, and a zebra crossing from Our Lady of Lourdes School to the current Bean Brownie shop.
“It is also proposed to reconstruct and improve footpaths in the vicinity of both junctions, and modify and improve public lighting, road markings and road signage. In the early discussions on design a controlled crossing was ruled out due to people’s driveways adjacent to the junction”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
The public consultation is open from Wednesday 3 August 2022 until 4pm on Thursday 15 September 2022.
The full set of drawings and maps are on Cork City Council’s Online Consultation Portal at https://consult.corkcity.ie or at the public reception desk of Cork City Council, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork between the hours of 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.
Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development can be made on the Consult website above or in writing to “Executive Engineer, Traffic Operations, Room 338, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork”.
Proposals for Road Safety Improvements at Ballinlough Road, Wallace’s Avenue and Bellair Estate Junctions, 4 August 2022 (image: Cork City Council)
In the last few weeks though funding for a second but separate Cork City Council project/ contract for the top of the junction of Bellair Estate with Ballinlough Road has also come to fruition. This is a response to public and local political pressure over many years to make the junction safer.
The proposals include the construction of two table top raised areas at the junctions of Bellair Estate and Ballinlough Road, and Wallace’s Avenue with Ballinlough Road, respectively, and a zebra crossing from Our Lady of Lourdes School to the current Bean Brownie shop. In the early discussions on design a controlled crossing was ruled out due to people’s driveways adjacent to the junction.
It is also proposed to reconstruct and improve footpaths in the vicinity of both junctions, and modify and improve public lighting, road markings and road signage.
The public consultation is open from Wednesday 3 August 2022 until 4pm on Thursday 15 September 2022.
The full set of drawings and maps are on Cork City Council’s Online Consultation Portal at https://consult.corkcity.ie oratthe public reception desk of Cork City Council, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork between the hours of 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.
Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development can be made on the Consult website above or in writing to “Executive Engineer, Traffic Operations, Room 338, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork.
Public information events, hosted by the National Transport Authority on the proposed bus corridors, are on Wednesday 27 July 2pm -7pm and on Thursday 28 July 9am – 2pm at Nemo Rangers GAA Club. It is crucial affected residents attend the public information events and put forward comments and/or concerns, and send in submissions to the consultation process.
The NTA will be holding a series of Community Forums beginning on Monday, 12th September 2022. Further information will be posted on the Bus Connect website in the coming weeks. To register your interest for these Community Forums, please email corkstc@busconnects.ie with your name, Community, Residents or Special Interest Group and the Sustainable Transport Corridor of interest.
