Motorway service station too near city, hearing told

CLAIMS have been made that drivers will not use a proposed new motorway service station because it was too close to Cork city.

A Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the €800 million Cork-Limerick motorway (M20) heard yesterday the only service station currently planned for the entire 80km route would be built at Lissard East, between Mourneabbey and Rathduff – just 19km from Cork.

Solicitor Joe Noonan, who represents a number of people living in the Lissard East area, told Bord Pleanála inspector Danny O’Connor that hungry motorists were far more likely to head into Blackpool where they could avail of the likes of Dino’s Restaurant or McDonalds.