Cork County Council set to back body on harbour development

A special committee looks likely to be set up by Cork County Council to oversee all future development in Cork Harbour area.

Support has been given to the idea by all municipal authorities whose territories border what is the second biggest natural harbour in the world.

The last municipal authority to lend its support for the move was the Bandon/Kinsale area after Cllr Alan Coleman formally tabled that it be adopted.

He said “joined-up thinking” was needed between municipal districts to input into a Cork Harbour special local area plan — which would form the blueprint for future development in the general harbour area.

Cllr Coleman (Ind) said this was a logical next step in progressing the work already undertaken by the local authority on the draft Cork Harbour study.

He said this would “ensure that the multi-faceted voices of Cork Harbour stakeholders are heard in a democratic way,” by addressing issues to a special new committee comprising some representatives of the municipal districts surrounding the harbour.

They also include the East Cork, Carrigaline/Ballincollig and Cobh/Glanmire municipal districts.

Cllr Coleman said the Cork Harbour study was initiated by Nicholas Mansergh, who had now retired from the council’s planning policy unit.

“It is still in early draft form and it’s very important it is finished,” he said.

He pointed out that there was a huge amount of different types of activity taking place in the harbour.

“We need a co-ordinated response to commerce, trade, tourism and leisure activities.

“There’s lot of potential clashes between industry and communities which we need to manage.”