Controversial Bus Connects plan to knock hole in wall of historic Cork army barracks dropped

Campaigners in Ballincollig opposed NTA proposal to create a 2m-wide archway in a section of the town’s 19th-century barracks wall at the landmark East Gate to facilitate the construction of a new footpath

A section of the historic army barracks wall at East Gate, Ballincollig, where BusConnects Cork plans to create a new archway through the wall for a footpath have been dropped.

Controversial plans to knock a hole for a new footpath through an historic army barracks wall as part of the Cork Bus Connects plan have been dropped.

The National Transport Authority’s (NTA) decision follows criticism in Ballincollig over the proposal to create a 2m-wide archway in a section of the town’s 19th- century barracks wall at the landmark East Gate to facilitate the construction of a new footpath.

The East Gate, its pillars and walls on the town's Main Street, one of three entrances built between 1800 and 1820 to the town's former army barracks which was built to protect the town's former royal gunpowder mills, are listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

The proposed new pedestrian route through the wall, next to Healy’s pub, would have given NTA engineers more space on the main road to create wider bus and bike lanes.

But local heritage campaigners said creating an archway beneath the wall's original lookout slits which are still visible today would destroy its original historical function.

In a statement, the NTA said the design team working on the Ballincollig to Cork city Sustainable Transport Corridor (STC) have spent months refining the design for the area around East Gate.

“Following further review and local engagement, the NTA has worked on optimising the proposed design that would remove the need for an archway for pedestrians in the wall at East Gate, whilst still delivering on the sustainable travel objectives, including delivering cycle facilities in each direction,” it said.

The NTA said it was still engaging with business representatives in Douglas, who are opposed to elements of the STC I Maryborough Hill to city centre proposals through the village.

Meanwhile, the NTA said its design teams on all 11 STCs were still working through all of the feedback received as part of the third round of consultation and were finalising the preferred route options.

It expects to publish draft public consultation reports in the coming months, providing an overview of the main issues raised in the submissions and the NTA’s response to those issues.

“The designs themselves will be further developed and statutory consent applications to An Bord Pleanála will be prepared,” a spokesman said.

“It is anticipated these applications will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála on a phased basis, beginning Q1 2025 for its consideration and determination.

“A formal statutory consultation process will be undertaken as part of that process.”