Fears for multimillion public realm projects in Cork towns

Government sought expressions of interest from local authorities in 2021 but there has been no further requests to formally apply for funding

Planned works for Cobh include a restructured promenade, almost total footpath renewal, a revamp of the town’s squares, large areas for outdoor dining, and new landscaped gardens. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Concerns have been raised that multimillion public realm and infrastructure upgrades planned for two Cork towns may not go ahead.

Government first sought expressions of interest from local authorities for town regeneration projects to make them more sustainable for projected population increases in 2021.

Cork County Council submitted proposals for Cobh and Carrigtwohill and was provided with government funding to draw up detailed plans for the major revamps.

However, there has been no further requests from the Government to formally apply for funding for these improvements.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the Cobh Municipal District Council by Cobh-based Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen and Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry, who lives in Carrigtwohill.

“These planned works in Cobh were launched in 2021 and following a public consultation phase, the public realm upgrades were passed by the municipal district in 2022. The one for Cobh is supposed to be done in six phases,” Mr Rassmussen said.

It includes a restructured promenade, almost total footpath renewal, a revamp of the town’s squares, large areas for outdoor dining, and new landscaped gardens.

Mr Barry said in Carrigtwohill the council needs the funding for planned infrastructure improvements and to develop a library, arts/culture centre, citizens advice centre, and public park.

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The designs are being finalised to ensure they are shovel ready if the Government activates the long-delayed call for funding the projects.

However, Mr Barry said the excuses the Government has made for not progressing the funding include costs associated with the pandemic and the housing crisis.

“At this stage I have huge concerns as to when and if the public realm improvement will be completed. 

"To date there is no mention of an application for funding being looked for as no other funding streams are available at present. 

"In the meantime, the cost of materials and contractors is going up significantly,” Mr Rasmussen said.

He said locals and visitors alike keep asking why the footpaths and roads in the centre of Cobh are so bad and the delay in the public realm project is the reason.

“We have money allocated from the lower harbour drainage scheme for road resurfacing but this will not be spent until the public realm is completed. While we wait for this the roads continue to deteriorate,” Mr Rasmussen said.

He said if progress is not made on the public realm, he “fears Cobh will turn into a ghost town in the coming years” as many businesses are struggling to survive and more has to be done to attract visitors.

“Carrigtwohill has the same main street as it had in 2000 when the population was 1,400. 

"Last year, the population grew to more than 6,000. The public realm plan for Carrigtwohill is to allow the town develop and sustain the projected further population growth coming down the tracks,” Mr Barry said.

“Since the funding delay for public realm improvements and the shelving of the N25 upgrade, roughly 400 houses have been built and another 1,000 have been approved for planning. 

"It is simply not tenable to continue to grant planning without the proper infrastructure to support it,” Mr Barry said.

He said that if it was not for the work carried out in the town by a number of voluntary organisations, Carrigtwohill would already be in serious trouble.