Bid to allay traders’ fears over planned roadworks in Clonakilty

An artist’s impression of Clonakilty’s proposed new streetscape is to be erected in the West Cork town as part of a move to allay traders’ fears about the commercial impact of planned roadworks.

A series of public events will also be deliberately located in areas affected by the work, while the county council has agreed to stop work during the main tourist season, and communicate closely with Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce throughout the process.

The controversial €2m road resurfacing project will cut through the heart of the picturesque town, but the Chamber of Commerce has moved to allay the fears of the local business community about the impact on the town.

The planned work will pave the way for a new water mains and the development of a new drainage system for the town centre. It is set to begin at the end of this month and will last for 40 weeks.

“Businesses have voiced their concerns to me both through the Chamber of Commerce and in my role as a local politician,” said councillor Christopher O’Sullivan, chairman of the chamber’s tourism committee.

“They’re very worried about disruption during the tourism season and they’re concerned that there won’t be sufficient communication as to when their street will be closed and at what times.

“The council has agreed to keep in close contact with the chamber, so if any issues arise during the work, it can be discussed.”

An agreement, it emerged, has also been reached under which the work will stop completely in the last fortnight of July and throughout the whole of August, so as not to disrupt the town’s main tourism season.

The project is expected to begin at Faxbridge roundabout and proceed through to Bank Corner at the opposite end of the town.

It will be a “tough pill” for local businesspeople to swallow, Mr O’Sullivan said.

However, he predicted: “The finished product will be the envy of West Cork and possibly the entire county.

“The streetscape will be fantastic and there will be certain areas featuring paved cobbles, trees and shrubbery, which will be reminiscent of the superb work done on Astna Square.”

The County Council’s architect had agreed to provide an artist’s impression of the finished streetscape, to be erected at the main entrances to the town,