Category Archives: Ward Development

Well Road Bus Connects Project, 24 July 2022

Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

In the last few days, the National Transport Authority flyered homes along Well Road outlining the proposed Bus Connects corridor route.

A handful of people have been in contact with me noting that they heard of the information being delivered but did not get the information. If you have not received the material, please email me kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie or contact me by phone at phone at 087 655 3389.

The main website is www.busconnects.ie/cork/ and the Well Road plans are contained under proposed Bus Corridor K, Kinsale Road to Douglas under pages 50-52.

https://busconnects.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/STC-K-Kinsale-Road-to-Douglas-20.06.22-FA-WEB.pdf

The current draft plan contains very dramatic interventions to widen Well Road such as compulsory purchase orders – please note the draft proposal of taking up and over 2m from a large number of front gardens on Well Road.

The proposals are being led by the National Transport Authority, whose planning authority will be An Bord Pleanála.

In otherwords, the plans will not be formally voted in the City Council chamber. It is my personal view that such a removal of local decision making processes is to be deplored.

A number of residents have been already in contact with me so far and are very upset by the proposed changes. If residents have questions or comments, I can still field them in the City Council Chamber or at the Roads Strategic Policy Committee meetings. My contact details are above.

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 Mangala Bridge Proposal, Public Meeting No.2, Friday 22 July, 6.30pm

Climate Action, Cork City Events, Cork History, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Development, Ward Events
Site of Mangala Bridge Proposal by the NTA (picture: Kieran McCarthy)
Site of Mangala Bridge Proposal by the NTA (picture: Kieran McCarthy)

As noted in my flyer to houses in Donnybrook and in (some of- photocopying issues!) my Maryborough Woods flyers this week, I note I will host another Q & A meeting on Friday 22 July 2022, 6.30pm, Ballybrack Woods.

The meeting is on the flat green area by the stream at the proposed site of the bridge, next to the central tree in the picture.

Last week’s meeting was targeted at the social media market but I got alots of emails and calls during the week recommending another meeting for those not on social media.

So Many thanks to the flyering team yesterday and today. Over 1500 houses were flyered. We put in alot of steps 🙂And there may be people on social media who missed the meeting last Friday, are seeing this, and want to attend 🙂

But if you are concerned and are up to speed with the bridge proposal, don’t leave your submission to someone else.

It doesn’t have to be an epic submission, but why the woods is important to you.Make your submission here: https://busconnects.ie/cork/

We Can and we Will stop this together.#saveballybrackwoods#savethemangalaView the scale of the Mangala bridge proposal and what it impacts here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkqzvd8qe8

My thanks as well to all those I met last evening at the public meeting on Boreenmanna Road, and the calls and emails that came into from the Shamrock Lawn area today.

Cllr McCarthy: Shock and Anger at Environmental Vandalism Proposal, 15 July 2022:

Climate Action, Cork History, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Development
Cllr Kieran McCarthy at Ballybrack Woods, Douglas, July 2022
Cllr Kieran McCarthy at Ballybrack Woods, Douglas, July 2022

“A shocking act of environmental vandalism” is how Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has described the proposal by the National Transport Authority 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.

To view the plans, log onto busconnects.ie

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”. “One just can’t have one climate action agenda dominating over a dozen other climate action priorities. They are all important. In this case, it is literally being proposed, amongst other concepts to eliminate the last green lungs of Douglas, to seriously interfere with a biodiversity corridor, and to remove a significant site of enormous health and well-being added value from its surrounding communities”.

“What is also shocking and very disappointing coming from the NTA is the downplaying of a such a removal of urban forestry. Their proposal is hidden away in its series of online bus corridors map proposals, which require the citizen to have a detailed knowledge of map reading and ready access to their own measuring tape”. “The consultation and info sessions are taking place during July when people are away on holidays and people are just beginning to feel freedom post a very tough two years of COIVD”.

“The communication to local communities of the detail of proposals has been shocking and instead of leading to support from communities or encouraging support for change have led directly and certainly led to fear, anger, grief, panic and sadness amongst my constituents. Supposed partnership has turned into a battleship”. “At this moment in time I have no confidence at all in the NTA to deliver the Cork Bus Connects programme that will enhance the city’ public transport in a sustainable and inclusive way”, concluded Cllr Kieran McCarthy.

NTA Bridge Proposal, Ballybrack proposal, July 2022
NTA Bridge Proposal, Ballybrack proposal, July 2022

Kieran’s circulated letter to Residents, Douglas Road Bus Connects Corridor, 8 July 2022

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

I spent a good few hours yesterday and today back out on Douglas Road on its northern side and on Maryborough Hill flyering and speaking to a good cross section of house owners.

There is much upset and anger. It also seems that not all houses have got info from the National Transport Authority who are the lead authority on this project with An Bord Pleaneála.The Maryborough to Douglas Road bus corridor proposal is here at https://busconnects.ie/…/STC-I-Maryborough-to-City-29…

I will get my head around the Mangala bridge proposal in the short few days ahead as well as Boreenmanna Road bus corridor proposal.But thanks to everyone so far for their calls and emails. This is all info I can raise in the City Council Chamber at least and on the Roads Strategic Policy Committee.

More info at https://busconnects.ie/cork/ and in my letter to residents below. NB please make submissions.

Plus please attend the public information events, hosted by the National Transport Authority on the proposed bus corridors, which are on Wednesday 27 July, 2pm to 7pm and on Thursday 28 July, 9am-2pm at Nemo Rangers GAA Club.

Kieran’s Letter

Dear Resident,

In the last few days, the National Transport Authority flyered homes along Douglas Road outlining the proposed Bus Connects corridor route.

A handful of people have been in contact with me noting that they heard of the information being delivered but did not get the information. If you have not received the material, please contact me by phone at 087 655 3389 or email at kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie.

The plan is ambitious but proposes very dramatic changes to the roadscape in order to future proof public transport across the city. The proposals are being led by the National Transport Authority, whose planning authority will be An Bord Pleanála.

In otherwords, the plans will not be formally voted in the City Council chamber. It is my personal view that such a removal of local decision making processes is to be deplored.

A number of residents have been in contact with me so far and are very upset by the proposed changes. If residents have questions or comments, I can still field them in the City Council Chamber or at the Roads Strategic Policy Committee meetings. My contact details are above.

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 main website is www.busconnects.ie/cork/

I remain at your disposal for any help,

Sincerely,

_________________

Cllr Kieran McCarthy

Cllr McCarthy: Douglas Road BusConnects Proposed Route Involves Dramatic Change, 5 July 2022

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

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy asks householders with concerns on the proposed BusConnects route from Maryborough Hill through Douglas Road to submit to the consultation process and to attend the consultation meetings.

Read more here: A, Dunkettle to City Centre, Sustainable Transport Corridor Emerging Preferred Route, Public Consultation June 2022 (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. What I particularly don’t like is the over-riding of public reps and their decision making processes and their knowledge of localised roads needs on the ground. I am receiving a lot of calls and emails from locals asking for City Council members to intervene but on this enormous set of plans, the local Council members have been dismissed, and the National Transport Authority is now the key decision maker. The further centralising of public reps powers to national level is to be deplored”.

“If local residents have questions they can still contact me. I am already hearing from local residents who have concerns on the widening of Douglas Road and the proposal to take a large number of property strips of land from 96 private gardens along Douglas Road. The removal of 91 on-street parking spaces is also proposed along the western section of Douglas Road. To achieve some of this. a new area of replacement parking is proposed by the entrance to St Finbarr’s Hospital”, continued Cllr McCarthy.

“In sections where buildings are located close to the road and it is not possible to provide bus lanes, it is proposed that an outbound (towards Maryborough Hill) bus priority will be provided using traffic lights that will hold back general traffic during times of congestion. Traffic as well would not be able to continue inbound from Bellair estate straight through to Southern Road”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.

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. Cllr McCarthy further added that it is crucial affected residents attend the public information events and put forward comments and concerns.

Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022

Climate Action, Cork History, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Development, Ward Events
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)

Lots of people have asked over the past two years is there a plan to resurface the Marina Walk with a more amenable surface. The old concrete in many places is broken and is dangerous to the walker. So I am delighted to see the Marina Promenade progressing now to public consultation.

The project will in essence restore the road to its original state as a walkway (see the images attached). It is also more or less 150 years to the day since the name The Marina, named after a walkway in Palermo, Sicily, replaced the name Navigation Wall. So this public call is very apt.

Details:

Cork City Council is asking residents, communities, businesses, and other key stakeholders to have their say on a proposed upgrading of the Marina which will further enhance the much-loved amenity for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities.

Today, it published a planning notice seeking Part 8 planning permission on the promenade which was pedestrianised nearly two years ago.

The project team are seeking to repurpose approximately 1.8km of the existing Marina Promenade to deliver a combined footpath-cycle path and improved public spaces.

The plans also provide for the creation of plazas, balconies and new seating areas at intervals along the Marina.Public lighting will be replaced between Church Avenue and Blackrock Harbour and new public lighting and feature lighting installed between Centre Park Road and Church Avenue.

As is currently, the Marina promenade will remain car free from Centre Park Road to Church Avenue (1.5 km) with a shared 6-metre-wide surface for pedestrians and cyclists, widening to 7.0m at the filtered permeability gate at Church Avenue. Similarly, car access will be maintained for residents on Church Ave and those living north of Church Ave on the Marina.

The plans also include:

• Provision of new pedestrian and cycle access points from the Marina Promenade into the adjacent Marina Park including Atlantic Pond and the Cork City to Passage West Greenway.• Retention of the iconic formal tree planting along the route

• Protection and enhancement of the natural heritage, green space and biodiversity of the area and the conversion of some footpath areas to green space

• Provision of an access road serving Lee Rowing Club, Pairc Ui Chaoimh/Atlantic Pond and the lands in between.

More detail is available on https://consult.corkcity.ie/en or alternatively, plans & particulars will be available for inspection or purchase on working days at Reception Desk, Cork City Council, City Hall from Thursday 23 June to Thursday 4 August 2022.

Closing date for all submissions is Thursday 18 August 2022 at 4pm.

Kieran, Read more on the history of The Marina on my heritage website, http://corkheritage.ie/?page_id=5989

Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)
Marina Promenade Project, 23 June 2022 (image: Cork City Council)

Cllr McCarthy: Priority Needed to Resolve Atlantic Pond Flooding, 13 June 2022

Kieran's Council Work, Uncategorized, Ward Development

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has asked the valve and flooding issue at the Atlantic Pond be prioritised. At this week’s City Council meeting, in response to Cllr McCarthy’s written question, Director of Services David Joyce outlined that the delivery of the proposed works to the outer valve and associated localised quay wall repair has been delayed due to the backlog of work arising from Covid 19 as well as significant workloads associated with other functional areas e.g. planning applications for housing, responding to flooding and other emergency incidents etc.

Mr Joyce noted: “this site consists of a twin valve configuration, with an inner and outer valve. The inner valve is fully functional with the outer vale in need of repair and reinstallation. While this interim configuration is not ideal it does function, albeit without the redundancy of the twin valve setup. The intention is to carry these works as quickly as possible. A sustained period of dry weather will be required to enable the works to proceed”.

Cllr McCarthy highlighted at the City Council meeting: “The Atlantic Pond valve work needs to be accelerated by the end of the year. There was funding of over e.50,000 put aside for the works to proceed this year. It is essential that they proceed and that the funding is not thrown back into the Council’s budget pot. The Atlantic Pond is a fantastic amenity, and its footpaths seem to get regularly flooded during the winter hindering full use of the pond for walkers and amenity users”.

Press Release – Cllr McCarthy: Timeline given on Old Railway Line Greenway Re-opening, May 2022

Cork City Events, Cork History, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Development

An update on the Old Railway Line greenway was given to Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy at last Monday’s City Council meeting.

The Contractor is currently working within the old Blackrock Station. During the course of these works it was necessary to undertake additional conservation and repair work to boundary walls, platforms and adjoining structures. The full extent of this work only became apparent when the overgrowth was fully removed.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “A good few people are asking about the delays to the re-opening of the Old Railway line walk. I questioned the Chief Executive at the last Council meeting and it has been the conservation works around the old Blackrock platform, which has delayed the works. On pulling back the vegetation, the damage on the masonry was worse than expected. I realise that many people are anxious to get back to using a much loved community space. It’s down to a few short weeks now before it’s re-opening”.

Completion works for the new access ramp between the Greenway and the Marina (i.e. through Holland Park) is scheduled to commence in late 2022 as per the original programme. The work on this ramp is staggered to allow for the settlement of the earthwork’s embankment.

The last remaining section of the Passage Greenway Project Phase 1 is scheduled to be fully open to the public in mid-July. The Contractor is likely to have some remaining off line works to complete beyond this date such as the completion of snags etc however this work will not affect users of the Greenway.

Kieran’s May Historical Walking Tours

Arts, Climate Action, Cork City Events, Cork History, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, S.E. Ward Local History, Uncategorized, Ward Development, Ward Events

Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has announced his historical walking tours for May, which have a focus on the hills and views of Cork. He will conduct walks across the area of Tramore Valley Park, St Patrick’s Hill area, and also around the Barrack Street area. The Tramore Valley Park tour will explore the development of the area from being a swamp through to being a landfill and then onto being an artificial mound to enable the development of a park. All of Kieran’s tours are free and no booking is required.

Cllr McCarthy noted: “Cork’s Tramore Valley Park is an exciting addition and recent initiative of Cork City Council. It is great to be able to revisit the cultural heritage of the park and its surrounds with the Kinship arts project this month. Historically William Petty’s 1655 map of the city and its environs marks the site of Tramore Valley Park as Spittal Lands, a reference to the original local environment and the backing up of the Trabeg and Tramore tributary rivers as they enter the Douglas River channel. We are lucky that there is also really interesting perspectives on the area recorded through the ages, which have been great to research”. 

“Walking across the park, one can feel the tension in its sense of place, a place haunted and engineered by its past and teeming with ideas about its future. Of course, there are green spaces scattered across the city but none with the same scale of development and story as the 160 acre site off Kinsale Road. This is a site where the city’s environment has also been a regular topic of debate across local newspapers and in the city’s council political chamber”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.


Kieran’s May Tours:

Saturday 14 May 2022, The Northern Ridge – St Patrick’s Hill to MacCurtain Street; Tour around St Patrick’s Hill – Old Youghal Road to McCurtain Street; meet on the Green at Audley Place, top of St Patrick’s Hill, 2pm (free, duration: two hours, no booking required).

Sunday 22 May 2022, Views from a Park – Tramore Valley Park, historical walking tour in association with the KinShip Project; meet at Halfmoon Lane gate, 2pm (free, duration: 90 minutes no booking required).

Saturday 28 May 2022, The Friar’s Walk; Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanan’s Tower & Greenmount area; Meet at Red Abbey tower, off Douglas Street, 2pm (free, duration: two hours, no booking required).

Ward Watch – Proposals for Mahon Cycle Scheme, May 2022:

Climate Action, Improve Your Life, Kieran's Council Work, Landscapes, Uncategorized, Ward Development
Mahon Cycle Scheme Proposal, May 2022 (Cork City Council)
Mahon Cycle Scheme Proposal, May 2022 (Cork City Council)

If you live in the areas below, it is very important to have a look at these road and public realm changing plans on the link below:

Cork City Council intends to carry out the following traffic management measures on:

Ringmahon Road,

Avenue de Rennes,

Skehard Road,

Ballinsheen Road,

Sean Cronin Park, Ashwood,

Mahon Drive,

Lakeland Crescent,

Loughmahon Road,

Loughmahon Park

and Castle Road

for the safety and convenience of road users, and in response to the public call for more pedestrian safety measures and the fixing of the public realm within the Mahon neighbourhood.

To see the proposed scheme with maps and to comment formally on the plans, click here: Mahon Cycle Scheme | Cork City Council’s Online Consultation Portal

The main elements of the proposed Mahon Cycle Scheme are:

– Renewal of footpaths and enhancements to the public realm.- Installation of upgraded controlled pedestrian crossing facilities.

– Installation of raised table-top ramps and uncontrolled crossing facilities at junctions.

– Installation of circa 5.3 km of cycle infrastructure, including segregated cycle tracks and greenways. – Signalisation of junctions at Ringmahon Road West/Skehard Road, Ringmahon Road/Avenue de Rennes and Skehard Road/Avenue de Rennes.

– Adjustments to the existing road layout, including traffic lanes, parking areas and new road markings and signage.- Other necessary associated works.

The project will be funded by the National Transport Authority, and offers funding heretofore non existent in Cork City Council’s coffers to do any works.

My email is at kieran_mccarthy@corkcity.ie if any clarifications are needed. I did ask that the maps be made easier to read. I was partially successful in that quest.

Kieran’s Press Quote:

“A e6m investment by the National Transport Authority into the heart of Mahon is significant. The funding may come from the National Transport Authority but it is being driven by Cork City Council as a response by local residents and ward councillors like myself calling for substantial investment in the public realm in Mahon”.

“The funding won’t solve all of the area’s crumbling footpaths and roads, but it is a start and does put a huge focus on the principal roads putting in protected cycleways bit also upgrading footpaths. I regularly get correspondence from Mahon residents calling for measures to slow down the traffic, calls to add in new pedestrian crossings, and altogether make it a better and safer area to be able to walk and cross the core roads in the area”.

“This is a big cycle scheme though with over 5.5kms of road space effected. I have called on the engineer involved in the project to have info days for the local community so people can hear about the process behind the project. I would call on all local people to have a look at the scheme on the Cork City Council Consultation web page. Google the latter and the scheme can be reviewed. If there questions and or concerns it is important to put in a submission during the public consultation phase. I have no doubt there will be aspects that local people can support and others that may not gather as much support – but please make a submission – is my call to local people who have concerns”.