Writes Ciaran Dineen
At the latest meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District (MD), Councillor Audrey Buckley asked Council Officers for an update on the progress of the implementation of the one-way system in Crosshaven.
Earlier this year Cork County Council had approved plans for a one-way system in the area, alongside the Hugh Coveney Pier. The concept has been touted for many years but previous attempts to follow through with the system did not reach a successful outcome.
However, Councillor Aidan Lombard (FG) and most recently Councillor Audrey Buckley have both argued for its implementation. However, due to circumstances surrounding Covid-19, the Council have not yet been able to secure the necessary signs for work to commence on the project.
Pic One Way- A Council drawing of the area at The Hugh Coveney Pier, Crosshaven where a One-Way system is planned.
When Cllr Lombard originally raised the matter back in August of 2018 at the then Bandon-Kinsale District, he noted that despite the fact that the ‘Traffic and Transportation’ section of the Council had suggested that a one-way system was unworkable, during Volvo Week the strategy had worked very well. At the time he went on to say that “it was absolutely flawless with people out at tables and chairs along the street.”
More recently Cllr Buckley had raised the idea at the July meeting of the newly formed Carrigaline District in 2019, receiving support from many of her fellow colleagues including Councillor Seamus McGrath (FF) and Councillor Marcia D’Alton (Ind).
The system hopes to deal with the significant traffic congestion that builds up along the coastal town, particularly during the summer months and despite being given the go-ahead earlier this year, implementation has been forced into a delay.
At the latest meeting of the MD Councillor Buckley stressed the importance of initiation as soon as possible considering that hoards of people are expected to descend on the area as restrictions loosen during the summer months. Speaking to The Carrigdhoun Newspaper Cllr Buckley added, “because it looks like the majority of us will be holidaying in Ireland this year it is vital that we get the one-way system up and running in Crosshaven Village. As locals we need to get used to the one-way, as part of major congestion that is the norm on a busy weekend when we go into phase 2 this will be even worse.”
Joining her in these remarks was Cllr Lombard who said, “it’s not really only about a one-way system, it’s about what can be done when the one-way system starts. It gives us scope to widen out the paths and make the old village a pedestrian safe place. The one-way system in itself is only the first part of a bigger proposal I originally had and it is important that the rest is implemented faster than this was.”