Calls for council to abandon park and ride
It is expected that Cork City Council will shortly seek planning permission for a park-and-ride facility at Tinker’s Cross, but the location, it is claimed, is serviced by already chronically congested roads which will grind to a near standstill if the project goes ahead.
Cllr Gerry Kelly (FG) said a number of people had expressed concern to him about the project, especially as the Northern Ring Road is already congested. In addition, he said roads leading to the site from Glanmire were also inadequate to handle further traffic.
Instead, he said, the proposed park-and-ride at Dunkettle would be far more suitable and its opening, which is planned for 2008, should be brought forward.
Cllr John Gilroy (Lab) agreed with most of what Cllr Kelly said, but added that engineers planning the new northern route should look at a more appropriate location instead of Tinker’s Cross.
When built, the new super highway will connect the Cork-Dublin road north of Glanmire with the Cork-Mallow road and the Cork-Macroom road. Three potential routes have been chosen for the project and a decision on the exact one will be made next summer.
“Tinker’s Cross is the last piece of green open space in Mayfield and it’s very dear to the residents. Dunkettle will capture traffic coming from north and east Cork,” Cllr Kelly said.
Cllr Gilroy again called for a park-and-ride to be developed on the proposed new northern route. County manager Maurice Moloney said consultants were being employed by the local authority to look at possible sites and he would ask them to examine the councillors’ request.
Cllr Dan Fleming (FF) said the Tinker’s Cross site would only bring cars into the city, which defeated the objective.
“We should get a suitable open space,” he said.
Cllr Gilroy then pointed out that another 1,300 houses were planned for Glanmire, with the result that more cars would be on roads which weren’t adequate to support them.
“I visited Cambridge in the summer and their traffic people believe park-and- rides should be built 12km outside of a city,” Cllr Gilroy said.
