Councillors shoot down controversial housing plan by refusing right of way to developers

COUNCILLORS forced a housing plan with a controversial entrance back to the drawing board last night.

The move came following a decision by Cork’s city councillors to refuse to grant a right of way over public open space to JFC Developments for a site off Ballinlough Road.

The company applied for and was granted planning permission for 13 housing units on the site next to Ballinlough national school in 2002.

But the development site had no access onto the main Ballinlough road.

Citing traffic fears, council planners imposed a condition that the development’s vehicular entrance would have to come in over public open space through nearby Knockrea Lawn.

The green area has been maintained by residents for almost 25 years who mounted a major campaign to get the entrance to open out on to Ballinlough Road.

They appealed the planning decision to An Bórd Pleanala which upheld the council decision on the entrance but reduced the number of housing units to nine.

But last night, despite advice from city manager, Joe Gavin, that an entrance onto Ballinlough Road is still viewed as a hazard, councillors agreed unanimously to refuse to grant the right of way over the green area in Lake Lawn.

Cllr Terry Shannon welcomed the stance taken by councillors to protect public open space.

“It’s a small piece of land but it’s a big principle,” he said.

“We’re not against development, we’re not against this development. But the entrance should be on to Ballinlough Road.”

He said the developer should sit down with city planners and redesign the development.

Cllr Denis O’Flynn criticised council planners for pitting the developer against residents.

“The council is proposing to kick residents in the teeth by taking this green space from them,” he said.

Cllr Jim Corr also suggested that the Department of Education be asked to buy the site to solve school staff parking problems.