Board approves compulsory purchase of docklands sites for public park

CORK City Council was cleared yesterday to proceed with the compulsory purchase of a massive swathe of prime land — including the key Showgrounds site — in the city’s docklands.

An Bord Pleanála signed off on the council’s ambitious compulsory purchase order (CPO) of five separate sites around Páirc Uí Chaoimh, totalling 10 hectares, the largest of which is the 8.7 hectare Munster Agricultural Society’s (MAS) council-owned Showgrounds land.

The board reached its decision after considering a major report from inspector Michael Ward who chaired a four-day oral hearing last November.

The council sought to CPO the sites to secure the development of Marina Park — a huge public park it says will help kickstart the multi-billion-euro regeneration of the city’s docklands.

Council officials argued that the land was underused and that the MAS was in breach of the terms of its lease of the Showgrounds.

The CPO was vigorously contested by both MAS and CAB Motors.

Despite their opposition, the board confirmed the CPO in full and without changes late on Friday evening and wrote to all interested parties yesterday.

The decision means that the MAS, which was founded as a charity in 1842 and which has been based at the Showgrounds since 1892, will have to find a new home.

MAS chairman Gerard Murphy said members were very disappointed.

“The society has worked for over 160 years with and for the city of Cork,” he said.

“And we are still determined to function and to continue to serve and work with the city of Cork.”

Society members met yesterday to discuss plans for this year’s Summer Show, scheduled to take place at the Showgrounds on June 16 and 17.

Mr Murphy said members will study the board’s decision in full before making any further comment. However, it is expected that a judicial review will be sought.

Pat Ledwidge, the head of the council’s Docklands Directorate, welcomed the Bord's confirmation.

“Marina Park is an important part of our docklands project,” he said.

“It will not just serve the people of Cork, it will serve the region.”

The council plans to advertise internationally for consultants to design the flagship public park.

It is expected to publish within the next two weeks a notice confirming the CPO.

Affected parties will have eight weeks to challenge the CPO, which could be delayed if a judicial review is sought.

The next step is for the council to serve affected landowners with a notice requesting details of ownership or interest in the lands and what compensation they are seeking.

“The council will... endeavour to agree compensation,” a spokesperson for the law department said.

“In the absence of agreement, parties can apply for arbitration.”