Meeting invites public to air views on plan for Cork suburb

Cork County Council is embarking on a new plan for the Douglas area aimed at ridding traffic tailbacks and identifying future uses for undeveloped lands.

The local authority is inviting the public to a “consultation exhibition” at the Rochestown Park Hotel tomorrow which will run between 3pm and 9pm.

Peter O’Donoghue, senior engineer in charge of traffic and transportation, said the strategy would focus on Douglas, Rochestown, and Maryborough, as well as Donnybrook, Grange and Frankfield.

“We have already started the project and we hope to have it finalised before the end of this year,” he said.

“The strategy will be developed in conjunction with Cork City Council, the National Roads Authority, the National Transport Authority, Bus Éireann, the Department of Education and the gardaí.

“We are aware there is a lot of traffic congestion in the area which we want to address and we want to look at the future use of green areas around Douglas Village and Douglas Golf Course.”

A second round of consultations focusing on land use will take place in July.

“Our final proposals should be ready by October at which stage we will have a further round of public consultation.

We will also engage with members of the council’s Carrigaline Electoral Area on these issues as well.”

The project’s goal, Mr O’Donoghue said, was “to secure a successful vibrant urban centre with a more efficient transport network for Douglas that provides an improved public realm, reduces congestion, encourages greater levels of walking and cycling, and improves the quality of life for the community, thereby enabling sustainable future growth.”

MVA Consultancy has been commissioned to help the local authority prepare the strategy. A company representative and council officials will attend the meeting tomorrow.

Members of the public unable to go to the meeting can still participate in the consultation process by emailing comments to [e-mail] The closing date for submissions on tomorrow’s meeting is May 11.

Updates on the consultation processes will be made available on Cork County Council’s website — www.corkcoco.ie