News

Upgrade to the N40 off-ramp/South Douglas Road junction

 

Cork County Council intends to commence the Part 8 Planning process for the junction upgrade and signalization of the South Douglas Road / N40 Douglas West off ramp / Willow Park estate road junction.

The Douglas Land Use and Transportation Study (DLUTS) recommended measures across the Douglas area to improve travel conditions for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

One of the measures proposed is the installation of a signalized junction to replace the existing roundabout at the South Douglas Road/N40 off ramp West Douglas.

 

The works will involve:

  • Removal of the existing roundabout
  • Installation of traffic signals on four approach roads
  • Revised layout of road into Willow Park and Gaelscoil Na Doughlaise, incorporating possible signsalisation.
  • Revised layout of lanes and the end of N40 off ramp
  • Extension of footpaths and construction of a traffic island
  • Coordination with signals at West Douglas/N40 On Ramp and also Douglas East junctions

 

Benefits of the proposed scheme

  • Roundabout removed and replaced with signalised junction
  • Better distribution of time for all traffic at junction
  • Safer access to schools for pupils and parents
  • Much-improved pedestrian facilities
  • Bus detection enabling improved journey times
  • Linking of two traffic signalized junctions at Douglas West with junctions at Douglas East
  • Performance example: No blocking back onto the N40
  • Performance example: Improved journey times for buses on South Douglas Road

 

Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development will be situated, may be made in writing to Senior Engineer, Cork County Council, Traffic and Transportation, Floor 10, County Hall, Cork, on or before Friday 6th April 2018.

 

A Section 85 agreement has been drawn up and agreed with Cork City Council.

 

Associated documentation including site notice, location map and preliminary design drawing are at the links below:

Part 8 Site Notice Upgrade and Signalisation of South Douglas Road Roundabout

Location Map

Prelim Drawing

Local area, News

Proposed apartment development, Pembroke Wood, Passage West

 

 

Rowan View Developments applied for planning permission to Cork County Council for the development of 24 No. apartments, access, car parking, bicycle storage, refuse storage, amenity areas and landscaping on the green in front of Doodlebugs in Pembroke Wood, Passage West.  The planning application ref. is 17/05739.

 

The County Council requested that Rowan View Developments would provide further information.  That was lodged with the County Council on 2nd February.  The Council have assessed it and have deemed it significant.  That means the further information will be thrown open for commentary to those who have already made submissions.  Those comments/additional submissions have to be received by the Planning Office by or on 15th February.

 

The further information documents are available to view in the Planning Department, County Hall.  They are not available on-line yet and until they are, you can access some of the key ones below.  Let me know if you would like any particular ones emailed to you in higher resolution.

 

Further information response letter:

 

Photomontages:

 

Plans:

 

Solicitor’s letter:

News

Clarke’s Hill upgrade Part 8 documents and drawings

The Part 8 planning application phase of the Clarke’s Hill upgrade began yesterday, 29th January.
The scheme includes for a carriageway typically widened to 6m, 2 no. 2m footpaths, upgraded bus set-down locations and renewed boundary walls/fences.  The current signalised junction at the upper (southern) entrance to the Mount Oval housing estate will be upgraded.  A new signalised junction will be installed at the lower (northern) entrance to the Mount Oval housing estate and the junction between the R610 and the L2471 will be signalised.  There will be a new right hand turning lane from Clarke’s Hill onto the R610 and likewise from the R610 onto Clarke’s Hill.
Scheme plans and drawings are on display at County Hall and at the Carrigaline Area Office.  A link will also be put on www.corkcoco.ie.  That link hasn’t been made yet so until then, you can access the plans and drawings here:

Part 8 Clarkes Hill
369641-RP-0000-0001 Part 8 Planning report Volume 1
369641-DR-0100-0010 to 0012 Volume 2
369641-RP-3000-0001 P2 Clarkes Hill Screen for AA Volume 3
369641-RP-3000-0002 P2 Clarkes Hill PEA Volume 4
Submissions in relation to the proposed development  may be made on or before 3pm on Monday 26th March 2018 in writing to the
Senior Engineer,
Clarke’s Hill Road – Part 8 Planning,
Road Design Office,
Cork County Council,
Innishmore,
Ballincollig,
Co. Cork.
There is no fee for making a submission.

Local area, News

Airport roundabout upgrade

The NRA is running a project to upgrade the landscaping of the airport roundabout.  This upgrade went to Part 8 planning in November 2016.  The Part 8 planning report to the County Council is here:

‘Part 8 Planning Report N27 Airport Roundabout & N28 Shanbally Roundabout.pdf’-2 copy

Landscape drawings of the proposed upgrade that were published with the planning application are at these links:

1516-103-LA-T001 Site Location
1516-103-LA-T002 Existing Conditions
1516-103-LA-T003 Landscape Layout
1516-103-LA-T004 Painted surfacing detail
1516-103-LA-T005 Earth Mound Detail
1516-103-LA-T006 Sculpture Details

The project also includes an upgrade to the Halfway roundabout and an upgrade to the Shanbally roundabout.  The Shanbally upgrade also has planning permission but the tender is being run separately.  Drawings for the Shanbally upgrade are at these links:

1516-104- LA-T001 Site Location
1516-104- LA-T002 Landscape Layout
1516-104-LA-T003 Berm Details
1516-104- LA-T004 Planting plan and details

News

Lets Move with Cork SportsAbility

Lets Move with Cork SportsAbility –  funding available for disability services and special schools through the Healthy Ireland fund.

This initiative will support disability services and special schools in County Cork to establish Lets Move with Cork SportsAbility programmes. These programmes can be any activity that will promote physical activity in your school/centre. Please note this initiative is available to services and schools in County Cork.

The programme details and application form are at these links:
Lets Move With Cork SportsAbility Programme Details
Lets Move With Cork SportsAbility Blank Application

Closing date for completed applications to be returned to Pádraig Healy (Sports Inclusion Disability Officer) is Friday January 12th 2018.

Funding can be used for equipment, instructors and venue hire. All programmes must be completed with all funding spent and reported to Cork Sports partnership by March 9th 2018.

For queries please contact Pádraig Healy, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer, Cork Sports Partnership, c/o Motor Tax Office, Model Business Park, Model Farm Road, Cork

Email: phealy@corksports.ie       Ph: 086 7947923

Local area, News

Municipal District Funding Scheme 2018

Cork County Council’s Municipal District Funding Scheme 2018 is offering three different types of grant:

1. Capital Fund – for community groups, sporting and local organisations who would like to undertake infrastructural projects costing over €20,000 that would improve the range or quality of community-based facilities within their area

2. Community Contract – for Tidy Towns groups who work with Cork County Council on local works and projects, agreed with the local Area Engineer, that enhance the area in which the group is active.

3. Amenity Fund Scheme – for community groups, sporting and local organisations in County Cork who wish to undertake projects or purchase equipment to a value of less than €20,000 that directly benefits communities and meets particular needs.

The following link explains the guidelines for each of the grants:  Community Fund Guidelines

If at all possible, applications for the grant schemes are to be made on-line through https://www.yourcouncil.ie/ and applicants will need to register with YourCouncil.ie to apply.

The closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday 16th February 2018.

Local area, News

2017 funding through the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme

Just over €900,000 has been distributed by the Cork ETB to almost 1,600 voluntary groups all around the county through the Local Youth Club Equipment Scheme. A genuine attempt to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of these groups in our communities. The full list of funding awarded can be viewed at this link:
Cork list of allocations

Local area, Meeting notes, News

My letter to the Minister re. the boundary extension at Hop Island, December 2017

Before we started a briefing of Cork County Council to discuss the proposed new City boundary on Monday, 4th Dec, we were distributed with a map:

 

 

 

 

 

That same evening, Cork City Council also sat in their Chamber in City Hall.  They too had a map distributed to them.  You can see the scale of the difference at Hop Island/Passage West and Upper Monkstown:

 

 

 

 

I emailed our Chief Executive asking how on earth it was possible that two different maps were being discussed by the two different authorities on the same evening on foot of a joint negotiation.  He responded, advising that the map distributed to the City Council had not been authorised but that the map we had distributed to us did not show the results of a final element of the negotiations preceding the Council briefings.  The County wanted the boundary to run to the Chetwynd Viaduct at the N71 rather than further out at the brow of the hill.  The City didn’t agree.  But the City’s Lord Mayor wanted Hop Island.  At the last minute, the City negotiating team ceded the ground at Chetwynd, saying the boundary could be at the Viaduct if the County would give Hop Island.  The County’s Chief Executive said fine: the boundary could be set at the MacKinnon suggested line at Hop Island, i.e. almost down to the development boundary of Passage West.

The implication locally for us is that in developing our town, we will be trying to plan and maintain one of our greatest marketing tools – the Greenway – through a different local authority.  I know from working in Douglas how difficult this can be.  So after having spent a day on the phone to some of my fellow councillors, I wrote the following letter, asking for the Minister to please consider the future of Passage West, cc’ing it to those listed and including a personal covering letter:
Letter to Minister, 07-12-2017_3

I got no acknowledgement from anyone, either the Minister or any of those cc’ed.  On Monday 11th Dec, the final map to be recommended to the Minister was circulated to all County councillors at our statutory meeting:

 

 

 

 

 

The Chief Executive, the Deputy Chief and the Mayor were all away on business.  Many of us spoke at that meeting, including myself.  Our efforts were always going to be wasted emotion.  The new boundary as indicated in final map was recommended to the Minister and was approved by cabinet yesterday morning.

Former Councillor in the Carrigaline Municipal District of County Cork