Huge Potential For Walking And Cycling Loop At Scenic Hayes’ Lane.
Writes Leo McMahon
Hayes’ Lane, Monkstown, if maintained even once a year by Cork County Council, had great potential as a recreational asset for walkers and cyclists in a beautiful circuit route of the village, argued Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) at the monthly meeting of Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).
The surface of what was still officially a public road was significantly damaged by water over time and back in August she asked that it be clipped because it had got very overgrown and would become impassable for walkers in four to five years.
Cllr D’Alton had also suggested the MD submit that upkeep of Hayes’ Lane be included in the council’s recreation and amenity programme as part of an attractive circuitous walking and cycling network that would remain as a haven for biodiversity for Monkstown.
Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) seconded Cllr D’Alton’s motion adding that what she proposed would be a great asset to the community.
Cathaoirleach Seamus McGrath (FF) concurred, saying he too had asked the area office to make it passable for pedestrians. He could understand why the road was closed for vehicles, even though this wasn’t formally done, but argued there was a case to make it safe for pedestrians and the local community by cutting back overgrowth.
Senior executive engineer Madeleine Healy replied that she visited Hayes’ Lane on the day of the MD meeting. The road wasn’t formally closed and although gone back to nature was still passable.
She believed the council had to formally extinguish its road status and close off the middle section not needed for access by residents by means of bollards. Safety was also an issue due to it deteriorating and being slippery with springs popping up but she had no problem in carrying out one cut this year to keep the path clear.
Senior executive officer (SEO), Nicola Radley said she would convey the comments of the meeting to the MD officer to see what funding, if any could be appropriate for a walking route.
Cllr D’Alton welcomed this saying one cut a year might suffice until autumn next year adding: ‘if we don’t hold the space open on what is probably the nicest looped walk in Monkstown, we won’t be able to re-visit it.’ Cllr McGrath agreed.
Residents wanted it back even if there was no longer a connection following recent Irish Water works for the Lower Harbour Drainage Scheme, said Cllr D’Alton when requesting restoration of the old water pump, regarded as an item of street furniture, at Glen Road, Monkstown.
She also requested manned control of traffic at busy times at Castle Terrace, Monkstown because there was congestion and double yellow lines were being ignored. The engineer undertook to contact the relevant bodies about both issues in Monkstown.
That lighting would be installed along the northern (Riverview) end of Beach Road, Passage West was a motion from Cllr D’Alton that was seconded by Cllr McGrath. It was agreed to seek its inclusion in the 2020 lighting programme.
Following on her motion in July, Cllr D’Alton renewed her call for an electric vehicle charge point in Passage West.
The engineer replied that the council’s only role was to line the bay. It was up to the ESB to install it. The SEO added that the ESB was due to address the council’s development committee about its overall plan for charge points in the county and undertook to get back to the MD about this.
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