Former Lord Mayor wants Cork City Council to reconsider Marina Market planning rejection
A sign for Cork City's Marina market. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Former Lord Mayor of Cork City Mick Finn is to try and get planners to reconsider their decision to reject an application to extend Cork city’s Marina Market.
He also wants them to reconsider their rejection of an application to retain the market’s change of use from a warehouse distribution depot to a market and food emporium.
Planners have said infrastructure on Kennedy Quay is “insufficient for the existing and proposed use” and the new plans, if agreed to, would generate increased pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle volumes on Kennedy Quay “over and above historical uses”.
CPR Properties Cork Limited had applied to retain the change of use from a warehouse distribution depot to a market and food emporium and for permission for the demolition of minor internal and external partitions.
They also wanted permission for the change of use from vacant warehouse distribution depot space on the site to an events and function and gallery space.
Set up in September 2020, during the pandemic, the popular market is on the site of the former Southern Fruits Distribution Company Warehouse, Centre Park Road and Kennedy Quay, Cork City.
Among those to raise concerns were the Doyle Shipping Group (DSG), which operates in the Cork Port area near the Marina Market.
They said they were so concerned about safety issues that it is now just “a matter of time” before someone gets hurt.
Former Cork City Lord Mayor Mick Finn said: “This would be a shame.
“It’s a fantastic facility and very popular.
“I ran a youth festival event there in June and everyone was raving about the venue.
“This needs a rethink and I will be asking for it to be reconsidered.”
His fellow Cork City South Central councillor Dan Boyle said: “The grounds need to be examined.
“The hope would be that the decision might be reconsidered.”
In their November 15 decision, Cork City Council planners say: “The proposed development is likely to endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and obstruction of road users and be detrimental to road safety.
“The proposed development is (also) located in an area where it is necessary to limit the risk of there being any serious danger to human health or the environment.”
They also say: “The proposed development, due to its location, could - due to the risk of a major accident or if a major accident were to occur - lead to serious danger to human health or the environment.”
Permission was also sought for the change of use from a former pumping station to a coffee roasterie and for permission for the construction of a mezzanine to facilitate seating within the food emporium, the removal of nine car parking spaces to facilitate the provision of a parcel pickup depot.
Among other things they were applying for was permission for the provision of 44 bike parking spaces, and a bike rental hub.
In a submission, DSG Director Roger Hill said: “While DSG has no objection in principle against the proposed development, the application does not deal with the very significant operational issues and conflicts that currently arise on foot of this development.
“Our primary concern in relation to the existing Marina market, for which retention is being sought, is for the safety of members of the public.
“The establishment of the Marina market has resulted in a large increase in members of the public including young families walking down along Kennedy Quay on a daily basis, especially at weekends.
“Unauthorized parking in working areas on the key side has also become an issue.” He also said: “The establishment of the Marina market has resulted in Kennedy Quay being turned into a thoroughfare by the general public.
“This current situation is completely incompatible with DSG’s long established rights and uses in the area.
“If this situation is allowed to continue, it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.”
