Writes Ciaran Dineen
At the recent Southern Division meeting of Cork County Council in County Hall, newly-elected Councillors from the Carrigaline LEA received some responses to queries they had in relation to road infrastructure developments in the area.
Speaking first was Councillor Seámus McGrath (FF),who asked Council officials for an update on the Western Relief Road. Cllr McGrath himself signed the contract for the Relief Road back when he was County Mayor three years ago. In response, the Chamber was told that the contractor for the long-awaited road would be picked by the end of the calendar year, with the hope that that construction can begin in early 2020 as previously stated.
Main Street Carrigaline
Cllr McGrath also asked officials for an update on the works which are to go ahead to the Ashgrove roundabout, Ballinrea Road and Ballinrea Cross. A few weeks ago The Carrigdhoun Newspaper had reported that construction to the adjacent three-school project was to commence shortly, and work has now begun at a fast pace over the course of the last three weeks by contractors, MMD Construction.
Local representatives and residents in the nearby estates of Carrigcourt, Carrigmore and Dún Eoin have, for some time, voiced concerns over the education campus, and while there is now an acceptance that it is going ahead, the completion of the necessary infrastructural changes prior to the construction of the schools has been demanded by those affected.
In response to Cllr McGrath, Director of Services, Roads and Transportation, Pádraig Barrett, said that the Part 8 of the planning on the Ballinrea Road and Ashgrove Roundabout development, where the procedure for the carrying out of planning is explained to Councillors, will be discussed at the Carrigaline Municipal District Meeting in July.
However, he went on to say that the Ballinrea Cross will not be included in this Part 8 and for now is being treated as a separate matter, for which there is no current timeline. Responding to this Cllr McGrath encouraged Mr. Barrett to consider including the Ballinrea Cross as part of the overall package, although he did acknowledge that work to the crossroads is complex.
Speaking to The Carrigdhoun Newspaper following the meeting Cllr McGrath said, “I believe it is vitally important that the upgrade of Ballinrea Cross is included in the plans which are due to be published in July. We need to see the full extent of the proposed infrastructural improvements associated with the Education Campus. The Council already made the mistake of publishing a part plan for Ballinrea road and this piecemeal approach is not acceptable. In any event, the upgrade of Ballinrea Cross is critical and must happen before the schools open so from a timeframe point of view, we need to get on with it. I have already made it clear to the Director of Service that I will not be satisfied if a plan is published without the Ballinrea Cross element.”
Cllr Seamus McGrath
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