Skatepark for Passage West?

Writes Leo McMahon

A skatepark for Marmullane Park, Passage West was suggested by Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) at the recent meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).

He felt there was enough green space and it was the best location. It already had a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area), well-lit with a walk and an outdoor gym while elsewhere in the town there was a good playground. He asked that the council consider its possibility, if funding was available, because such a facility was lacking in Passage West.

Seconding, Cllr Jack White (FG) spoke about the success of the skatepark in Carrigaline Community Park and believed it should be explored.

In a report, MD officer Denise Kidney said the MD would liaise with the engineer to review the feasibility of the request and if it would be a possible outdoor recreation project for Passage West. 

Once that was completed, there would be a report back to councillors.  Cllr Fahy welcomed this.

Senior executive officer (SEO) Maurice Murphy said it would be looked and explored properly but warned that initial indications were that there were reasons it may not be able to happen.

Passage West Scheme

Ms Kidney reported that contractors were appointed in the summer for the Historic Towns Initiative in Passage West for which the council’s architects department obtained funding of €50,000 to produce a regeneration plan for the town. A public event to gather feedback from local people was held in the library in August.

In reply to Cllr Fahy, the SEO said it was hoped to have a report back by the end of the year and stressed the importance the heritage plan sat well with others such as derelict sites.

The MD officer said the list of nine Derelict Sites on the live register in the MD remained the same as in July and all were subject to levies. 

Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) asked that the MD look at other sites in the MD, including the Crosshaven bay area, some of which she believed were derelict. Cllr McGrath asked about Dock Terrace, Passage West.

Ms Kidney said a pre-register list had been received from the Town Regeneration Officer which was being considered with a view to providing  quarterly reports to the councillors.

Mr Murphy assured members that the whole issue of derelict sites was being ramped up across the county in order to get consistency and more regular reporting. While the perception might be that the council wasn’t doing anything, the reality was there were lots of intricacies such as establishing title and requirements to be met to get a site on the register.

Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) reported that the sign for St Mary’s Cemetery, Passage West was facing the wrong way. She said she got a call from an  undertaker unable to find the burial ground.

 Cllr McGrath welcomed the resurfacing of the lane to Passage West GAA Club under the Local Improvement Scheme and requested directional signage at the end of Church Hill for Cork and Ringaskiddy as their absence was an issue for the huge number of visitors during the recent ladies’ football blitz.

        Cllr Fahy concurred and thanked the area office for filling the pot hole on Fair Hill, Passage West ahead of the schools re-opening and the GAA blitz. He also welcomed the filling of three sink holes on the R610 between Raffeen and Monkstown which had previously been excavated and resurfaced by Uisce Eireann as part of the Lower Cork Harbour Main Drainage Scheme.