CUH confirms plans for park and ride sites at sports clubs

MUNSTER’S biggest hospital confirmed plans yesterday to develop park and ride sites for its staff on the grounds of two sports clubs.

Cork University Hospital (CUH) struck deals with Bishopstown GAA club and with Highfield Rugby Club earlier this year to locate park and walk sites for its staff on the clubs’ car parks.

But it emerged yesterday that the hospital now has plans to locate staff park and ride sites in Curraheen and Ballincollig.

Following talks with CUH’s commuter plan managers, Ballincollig Rugby Club has applied to Cork County Council for planning permission for a partial change of use of its existing car park to develop a 68-space park and ride for hospital staff.

It is hoped the facility, which will open subject to agreement from 7.30am to 6pm, with buses running at 8am and 9am, will be operational by March 2007.

Talks are also underway with management at Curraheen Park greyhound track with a view to developing a 100-space park and ride site for hospital staff in the car park there. It will operate, again subject to agreement, along similar lines as the Ballincollig facility.

The Health Service Executive said financial arrangements had not been finalised.

“The possibility of providing a service based on a site in the south eastern suburbs or at the city councils Black Ash park and ride is also under active consideration,” a spokesperson said.

It is understood the HSE’s deal with Bishopstown GAA club is in the region of €25,000 a year.

A three-month trial of that facility ends later this month but it is expected to become permanent.

Ballincollig-based county councillor Derry Canty (FG) said he was in favour of a park and ride at the town’s rugby club.

“I support it fully. Anything that will alleviate the traffic going through Ballincollig and Bishopstown is a good thing.”

His party colleague and city counterpart, Bishopstown-based Cllr Jerry Buttimer, welcomed the moves to develop a similar facility at Curraheen park.

“Anything that will reduce the level of on-street parking and traffic congestion in Bishopstown must be welcomed,” he said.

In his capacity as chairman of Bishopstown GAA club, Mr Buttimer was involved in negotiations for the park and walk on the club’s grounds.

He called for a fundamental review of how planning applications from large institutions like CUH, the Cork Institute of Technology and FÁS are dealt with in terms of parking requirements.