MacCurtain St clean-up in the works to combat paving stained with grease and oil

Pilot project will power-wash and seal sections of badly stained pavement as local business group calls for pavement sealing to be built into the contract of large-scale public realm projects

There has been sustained criticism about widespread and blatant illegal parking on areas of new paving on MacCurtain Street. File picture

A power-washing and pavement sealing process is being trialled on one of Cork’s most expensive public realm projects left badly stained just months after its official opening.

The VQ Group, which promotes the recently revamped MacCurtain Street as one of the city’s coolest neighbourhoods, said it hoped the test on a section of paving demonstrates to City Hall the need for pavement sealing to be built into the contract of large-scale public realm projects, and for regular cleaning once the works are complete.