Path From Village To School In Minane Bridge?

CPO The Only Way To Get Path From Village To School In Minane Bridge?

Writes Leo McMahon

A compulsory purchase order (CPO) may be required by Cork County Council in order to progress provision of a long sought after footpath from Minane Bridge to the local primary school, argued cathaoirleach Aidan Lombard (FG) at the monthly meeting of Bandon-Kinsale Municipal District.

The land issue, he pointed out, was very complicated and believed the only way to overcome this now was a CPO regardless of ownership.

‘I can’t understand what the reluctance is on the part of the council.  All we are asking is that the council acquire the land as we cannot do that as a community. He also sought independent legal advice about a CPO.’

Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind), seconding, said he wouldn’t normally support a CPO in a small community but this was a complicated legal situation regarding land ownership and it seemed a CPO was the only practical way.

In support, Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) said a footpath was paramount to the safety of pedestrians of all ages in Minane Bridge and pointed out that even a CPO was a slow process but the best way forward it seemed, in this case.

‘I went to school there 35 years ago when there wasn’t a footpath and today 52 houses in the village are still not connected by footpath to the school. There won’t be a footpath in 35 years time unless the council solves the problem,’ said Cllr Lombard.

Senior executive officer MacDara O Hici undertook to contact the council’s property section. He warned that the CPO process didn’t happen by the stroke of a pen but involved a public consultation process and possible objections in court.  Cllr Lombard said he accepted this but felt it had to be faster than the current situation.

No Road At Nohoval

‘There’s no road there at all’, said Cllr Lombard when referring to about 100 metres of road at Kingston’s Hill, Nohoval.

He asked for attention to the road from the former Garda Station at Ballyfeard towards Nohoval because the first section of it required repeated repairs.

There was a renewed call by an cathaoirleach for the cutting of tree tops blocking public lighting along Lower Kilmoney Road, Carrigaline. Executive engineer Mark Daly said the request had been passed on to the section dealing with this.

In a report, the engineer said it was hoped to have the contractor starting shortly on improving 800 metres of the R612 from Crosshaven to Drake’s Pool while the one kilometre section at Aghamarta was completed as was strengthening and resurfacing of the R611 at Lower Kilmoney Road from Cogan’s Corner to the garage.

Planned works on the L6510 Kilmoney Road upper had been deferred and Woodview off Lower KilmoneyRoad would be done instead.

A footpath from Brightwater to the village in Crosshaven was requested by Cllr Lombard.  The engineer said it was something that could be looked for in next year’s programme.  He understood the council’s property section had made enquiries.

Cllr Lombard asked that Transport Infrastructure Ireland be written to regarding the junctions for Rumley’s Farm, Liberty Hill and Castlewhite opposite the Viaduct Bar off the N71 and suggested an improved surface, re-lining and better highlighting of both to make these safer, especially for emerging traffic. He added that many houses were served by these roads.  Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) concurred, adding that attention was also needed to the turn off for Ballinhassig.