7 October 2021, “Cllr McCarthy explained that Cork City Council Council is also continuing to work with the multitude of landowners on the renewal part of Avenue De Rennes. “What has been revealed is a complex network of over a dozen owners of property in a small area,” he said, He said a substantial packet of investment, probably from central government may be needed to help renew the area, “Welcome for news that vacant building in Mahon will be demolished and redeveloped”, Welcome for news that vacant building in Mahon will be demolished and redeveloped (echolive.ie)
Category Archives: Ward Development
Cllr Kieran McCarthy, quote on Lakelands mixed use development, Mahon, 5 October 2021
“The permission for the mixed use development scheme is very welcome. For many years, the look of the former Lakelands bar building on the outside has been terrible. The large craters in the private car park have been in dire need of resurfacing. Part of the planning conditions now stipulate that re-surfacing of that section of the car park has to be done. A new pedestrian crossing will also appear adjacent the site on Avenue De Rennes.”
“Cork City Council Council is also continuing to work with the multitude of landowners on this part of Avenue De Rennes. What has been revealed is a complex network of over a dozen owners of property in a small area. Such a network complicates the short term renewal of this part of Avenue de Rennes. What has become very apparent is the area needs a substantial packet of investment, probably from central government, so that the legal complexities can be began to unpicked, legal titles with liquidated owners gathered, and then new plans drawn up. Hopefully any success of the Lakelands investment will attract more investors for the benefit of the wider area of the avenue ”.
Full planning report here:
ePlan – Online Planning Details (corkcity.ie)
Press Coverage: 1 October 2021, ” Earlier this year, when plans for the redevelopment of the site emerged, Independent Councillor Kieran McCarthy said it was “really positive” for Mahon and had been “a long time coming”, Former Cork bar to be demolished and redeveloped,
Former Cork bar to be demolished and redeveloped (echolive.ie)
Cllr McCarthy: Marina Park Section Opening Delayed Until November, 14 September 2021
In a recent reply to a question posed by Cllr Kieran McCarthy at the recent City Council meeting, Cork City Council have noted a revised completion date of the Marina Park section next to Páirc Ui Chaoimh. Due to Covid 19, delays in construction works and poor weather has pushed the opening date from this month to mid to late November this year.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “The park looks more or less ready to open. It looks well and will add immensely to The Marina district. It’s been a long two years with construction work stopping and starting due to Covid 19. Phase one works has comprised the construction of a new public car park at the Shandon Boat Club end of the Marina, as well as a new cycle lane and pedestrian walkway – these are all now completed and are very well used. The public can now see the grass on sunken lawn areas in the park section and the diversion of a watercourse, as well as new pathways – all of which are in place.
“One can also see that the installation of perhaps the most eye-catching part of the project – a noticeable red steel pavilion on the site of, and replicating, the central hall of the former Munster Agricultural Showgrounds. The sides of the pavilion will not be enclosed, and there will be possibilities for coffee pods and outdoor seating and arts and crafts. The project is a e.10m investment into the area, of which nearly e.5m came from EU Urban Sustainable Funds, which are part of the EU’s structural funds and are a crucial source of funding for cities”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
Kieran’s Press, Beaumont Drive Traffic Management Plan Crucial During Works, 4 September 2021
Press: 2 September 2021, Traffic management plan ‘crucial’ during works in Cork suburb (echolive.ie)
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has asked Irish Water that a strongtraffic management plan be kept in place for the duration of the replacement works of problematic water mains on Beaumont Drive.
The works involve the replacement of approximately 1km of problematic water mains with new modern pipes. The programme to replace the water mains on Beaumont Drive will commence on week commencing 30 August 2021. These works are being carried out as part of Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme.
The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these will be replaced as part of this improvement work.
The works will be carried out on behalf of Irish Water by Ward and Burke Limited and are expected to be completed before end of October 2021.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Local and emergency access needs to be maintained at all times. Beaumont Drive is a very busy avenue, especially when local school traffic hits in the morning and afternoon. Working with local residents is crucial to make sure a flow of traffic”.
Steven Blennerhassett from Irish Water, explained: “To facilitate the safe delivery of the upgrades, a stop-go traffic management system may be in place and will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. During this project there may be some short-term water outages and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned water outages. Residents and businesses will be notified directly and can phone Irish Water on 1800 278 278 if they have any questions about the project”.
Cllr McCarthy: Launch of Douglas Main Street Parklet Warmly Welcomed, 3 September 2021
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has warmly welcomed the official launch of the Douglas Main Street parklet in the past week, as well as its other seven companions across the city. In May of this year, Cork City Council announced that it was looking to provide new parklets in the greater metropolitan area.
The parklets, designed by Siobhán Keogh Design and built by Benchspace Cork, are planted and maintained by the “parklet partners”, with funding for their upkeep administered by the City Council. The Douglas Main Street Partners are Okura Japanese Cuisine and Douglas Tidy Towns.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “The parklets have converted several on-street parking spaces into public open space and are a cost-effective way to create more vibrant streets, promote economic vitality, and provide an inviting green space for residents and passers-by to sit, relax, and interact. Providing greening on the urban street and encouraging biodiversity are two key elements of the parklets project. And certainly are very important to main streets like those in Douglas which is completed dominated by car traffic”.
“The intention is for planting is to be maintained in the parklets at all times, and the majority (if not all) of this planting should be “pollinator friendly”, concluded Cllr McCarthy.
Lord Mayor, Cllr Colm Kelleher emphasised at the launch of the eight parklet launches: “The feedback to date is that there is a huge welcome for the parklets with every indication that they are being used on a daily basis by pedestrians. The success of the parklets is not possible without the dynamism and commitment of the partners”.
McCarthy: Beaumont Drive Traffic Management Plan Crucial During Works, 31 August 2021
Cllr Kieran McCarthy has asked Irish Water that a strong traffic management plan be kept in place for the duration of the replacement works of problematic water mains on Beaumont Drive.
The works involve the replacement of approximately 1km of problematic water mains with new modern pipes. The programme to replace the water mains on Beaumont Drive will commence on week commencing 30 August 2021. These works are being carried out as part of Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme.
The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these will be replaced as part of this improvement work.
The works will be carried out on behalf of Irish Water by Ward and Burke Limited and are expected to be completed before end of October 2021.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Local and emergency access needs to be maintained at all times. Beaumont Drive is a very busy avenue, especially when local school traffic hits in the morning and afternoon. Working with local residents is crucial to make sure a flow of traffic”.
Steven Blennerhassett from Irish Water, explained: “To facilitate the safe delivery of the upgrades, a stop-go traffic management system may be in place and will be limited to short sections to minimise impact on customers. During this project there may be some short-term water outages and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned water outages. Residents and businesses will be notified directly and can phone Irish Water on 1800 278 278 if they have any questions about the project”.
Kieran’s Submission, Pairc Ui Chaoimh Planning Proposal, 21/40374
Next Thursday 26 August is the last day for public submissions to the Planning Directorate, City Hall on this proposal. My objections on the encroachment, via building a new car park onto the edge of the Atlantic Pond, are outlined below and have been acknowledged as received by the planning unit.
Public submissions may be made on any planning application by post and accompanied by the €20 fee. They may also be made via email to plansub@corkcity.ie and the submitter will be contacted by a member of Planning staff to take a card payment.
“Re: Planning Application at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, 21/40374Dear Director,I write to make my concerns known regarding the planning proposal submitted above.There are parts of the proposal I support such as the GAA museum and cafe, but I have very large concerns on the car parking and on the Atlantic Pond intrusion. The car parking issue has never fully been resolved down by the Pairc.
Even at the most recent matches cars were still parked across immediate green spaces and in the new bicycle lanes on Centre Park Road and beyond. And the crowd at that match was smaller than usual because of COVID measures. A proper transport plan to and from the Pairc is needed. One cannot just keep building another carpark and hope that eliminates the problem. In addition for me providing another car park is not about enhancing the public realm. A car park brings many hazards plus does not add to what the new adjacent Marina Park is trying to do in terms of a very valuable green space or add to the new pedestrianisation areas such as The Marina.
The other principal issue I have is the construction and intrusion of a car park on the physical western bank of the Atlantic Pond. There are serious ecological concerns in pursuing the construction on the ‘edge’ of the pond. Another car park will destroy the ecology of that immediate area of the pond in particular, and have a knock-on effect on the whole pond. In addition, I feel the proposed playground to be provided is a tokenistic one at best.
Yours sincerely,_Cllr Kieran McCarthy
Cllr McCarthy: Consultation on Draft Cork City Development Plan Open, 31 July 2021
Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy is calling on residents, and communities in the south east of the city and beyond to have their say on the 2022-2028 draft Cork City Development Plan. The draft Cork City Development Plan, has recently been published and provides an overarching framework to help shape the transformation of the City over the next six years by supporting the creation of 20,000 homes and 31,000 jobs.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “Eight weeks of public consultation on the plan have just commenced and I encourage members of the public, community groups, representative organisations to make a submission to the draft plan before the closing date of 4 October. The draft plan can be viewed at www.corkcitydevelopmentplan.ie and the public can have their say on the Plan at https://consult.corkcity.ie/”
“There is some great ideas and opportunities within this draft blueprint for Cork as the city embarks upon an exciting phase of growth and change – with sustainability, quality of life, social inclusion, and climate resilience at the plan’s core. In particular the need to protect green spaces and create more in areas from Ballinlough to Douglas is essential”.
Cork City Council CE, Ann Doherty said: “This Plan is significant in many ways; not least it is the first local policy-based expression of the ambition for Cork contained in ‘Project Ireland 2040’ and the National Planning Framework. The Plan follows widespread listening and engagement with stakeholders in the first round of public consultation. The draft plan’s rationale is further informed by a suite of evidence-based studies on the various opportunities and challenges facing the city”.
Kieran’s Press, Bessboro Update, 19 July 2021
19 July 2021, “This is great news; apart from a possible judicial review by the developer, the legal planning processes have now been gone through- it is clear that the potential of babies buried beneath parts of the grounds has seriously hindered future development; More and more the process is leading to the need for State intervention on the future of Bessborough and other Mother and Baby Home sites”, Independent Cork city councillor and historian Kieran McCarthy also welcomed ABP’s decision, Developers unsuccessful in their appeal of refusal for apartments at Bessborough site, Developers unsuccessful in their appeal of refusal for apartments at Bessborough site (echolive.ie)
Cllr McCarthy: Monahan Road Extension Project Open to Public Consultation, July 2021
Independent Cllr McCarthy wishes to remind residents and businesses in the vicinity of Monahan Road that Cork City Council’s Monahan Road Extension (MRE) project is now open to public consultation until 3 September.
Cllr McCarthy noted: “The new roadway will begin on Monahan Road, at the existing junction with the ‘Marquee Road’ where a new cross-roads junction will be formed. From there, the extension project will extend eastwards and pass to the northwest of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. At the eastern end of the proposal, the road levels will be elevated above existing ground level to connect to the future Eastern Gateway Bridge over the River Lee estuary. Approximately 400m of new four-lane two-way carriageway (two eastbound and two westbound) with central reservation, verges, cycle tracks and footpaths is proposed”.
Plans and particulars of the proposed development, including an Appropriate Assessment screening report and an Environmental Impact Assessment screening report are available to view by visiting https://consult.corkcity.ie.