Talks on Port of Cork move

Talks to kickstart the Port of Cork’s stalled relocation bid will take place in the coming days.

Port officials are due to meet County Hall planners to discuss the next step in the process of relocating its massive operations away from Tivoli.

County manager Martin Riordan has confirmed talks are due to take place to assess the options available to the Port.

It follows the rejection of its planned €160m terminal in Ringaskiddy by An Bord Pleanála in June.

Mr Riordan said: “The Port has arranged to meet our planning officials to see what the best way forward is.”

At County Hall yesterday, Cllr Maurice Ahern queried whether the Marino Point site outside Cobh will be the focus of the discussions.

He said the Fota Road would need to be upgraded in order to facilitate the move.

However, Mr Riordan said no concrete proposals had been put forward but all options would be examined.

Port officials have confirmed the Marino Point site is one of the options under consideration — as already revealed in the Evening Echo.

Its Ringaskiddy proposal was rejected on the grounds that there was no rail link and road infrastructure in the area was inadequate.

Marino Point, the former IFI site, would address the rail link issue but, in the longer term, vessel size capacity may be a problem.

The Ringaskiddy plan faced strong opposition from local community groups in the harbour area. Any plans to locate the container terminal at Marino Point could meet similar opposition.

Passage West town council has written to Cobh Town Council to ask its members to support them in their opposition to the Port of Cork carrying out any activities in their area.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper