Traders concerned cut in main street parking will cripple businesses

TRADERS have united against controversial new traffic plans for their town.

Cork County Council will unveil radical proposals today to overhaul Ballincollig’s main street as part of a major multi-million euro traffic management plan for a green bus route.

The works will start at Classes Lake in the west side, run right through the heart of the town, as far as Carrigrohane.

But the proposals include a massive reduction in the number of parking spaces on main street — from 120 to just 45.

Traders said the cut in main street parking spaces will cripple businesses.

Ballincollig Enterprise Board (BEB) said some traders could be forced out of business.

The council is planning to change the layout of the existing public car park behind main street to provide more spaces. A new car park is also planned next to the green area beside that Castle Park housing estate.

But the BEB said this is not enough.

The changes will see the removal of parking spaces from the north side of the street. The council is also planing to change parking positioning from front-side in to parallel parking on the south side. This will further reduce the number of cars that can be parked on main street, BEB spokesman Mr Whyte said.

Mr Whyte said the plan would remove a lot of customers from main street.

“It will ruin the village atmosphere of the town and could cripple business. The plans will go on public display at the Oriel House on Wednesday, August 9.

Council officials will attend the information session between 4pm and 9pm, during which public concerns will be noted.

The plans are also available for inspection at County Hall or at the council’s Ballincollig office until August 25.

Submissions from the public should be made before September 8.