Councillors oppose plans for park and ride facility
Five city councillors have followed previous calls by two northside TDs Bernard Allen (FG) and Noel O'Flynn (FF) to scrap council plans to build the facility on the Tinkers Cross site in Mayfield.
The country's first park and ride facility was developed at Black Ash off the Kinsale Road roundabout just over three years ago.
The profit-making service won a public service award a month ago.
However, in a joint motion put forward at last night's city council meeting, the five north-east ward councillors Mairín Quill (PD), Tim Brosnan (FF), John Kelleher (Labour), Annette Spillane (SF) and Dara Murphy (FG) called on city manager Joe Gavin to acknowledge that the Tinkers Cross site is "both unsuitable and unacceptable" for the city's second park and ride.
Ms Quill said there is an agreed need for a park and ride on the city's northside.
However, she said councillors want Mr Gavin to identify a "suitable and acceptable alternative site" to service.
They also called on him to agree to develop the green space at Tinkers Cross for recreational purposes.
Mr O'Flynn said he welcomed the move by the local councillors.
Building a bus-based park and ride at Tinkers Cross flies in the face of the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP), he said.
"The CASP strategy calls for bus-based park and rides at the existing Black Ash site, in Carrigaline and in Bishopstown," he said.
"CASP calls for rail-based park and rides at Dunkettle, Blarney and Kilbarry.
"The Tinkers Cross facility is premature until these are in place. The proposed location is next to second and third class roads and in a residential area."
Council officials are still waiting for a final report from consultants on the suitability of the site before proceeding.
"The final report is expected within three weeks," a spokesman said.
