‘Cork 300’, a series of events in Crosshaven celebrating the tricentenary of the world’s oldest yacht club, Royal Cork YC, got a boost when it was agreed at the recent meeting of the County Council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD) that €68,750 be allocated to Crosshaven under the 2020 Village Enhancement Scheme (VES).
Thousands of competitive sailors and other visitors will be in Crosshaven and Cork Harbour this year, the highlight of which will be Volvo Cork Week from July 13thto 18th.
MD officer Noelle Desmond recommended the VES allocation go to Crosshaven to aid preparation and presentation of the village for ‘Cork 300’. Cathaoirleach Seamus McGrath (FF) and all the other MD members spoke in favour and asked for progress reports at MD meetings.
Ms. Desmond said the MD office would work in co-operation with ‘Cork 300’ and other community groups as well as with the council’s architectural section and Carrigaline area office.
Thereafter, said Ms Desmond, allocations under the VES to the villages of Ballinhassig, Ballygarvan, Half Way, Minane Bridge, Monkstown, Shanbally, Ringaskiddy and Waterfall that were also suggested, would have to be agreed by councillors, perhaps by splitting the annual allocation of €68,750.
As she requested back in 2017, Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) again called for Passage West and Monkstown to be treated as separate settlements under the VES. She also called for feedback to members on how the schemes operated and developed so that they could answer questions from the public bearing in mind that the VES was aimed at making a village extra special. This was agreed.
Members were informed that the Department of Rural and Community Development had allocated €40,000 to the pre-development study required to progress village renewal works in Crosshaven.
‘This study will centre on environmental assessment and feasibility and will serve as a demonstrator project to inform the Department’s approach to supporting these in future under funding streams such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.’
With regard to the 2019 VES, Ms. Desmond said the contractor had commenced works at Half Way while works at Ringaskiddy would complement its overall Public Realm Enhancement Plan.
Cllr Lombard asked that Ballinhassig be considered for a VES and in a general comment, said he regarded a footpath as very much part of village enhancement and not just a basic job.
Members were told that the closing date for villages entering the 2020 Pride of Place Competition was March 21st. Ballinhassig entered in 2019 and was highly praised.
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