Planning granted to upgrade key cycling and pedestrian route for Passage West

Cork County Council applied for permission for the 2km of upgrades which it said would boost the usage of the paths starting at the Cork city/county boundary and stretching into Passage West. Picture: Denis Minihane

Planning permission has been granted to upgrade a key cycling and pedestrian route for Passage West, which the council has said will improve the health of residents and boost tourism in the area.

Cork County Council applied to An Coimisiún Pleanála last November for permission for the 2km of upgrades which it said would boost the usage of the paths starting at the Cork city/county boundary and stretching into Passage West.

“This portion of the Cork Harbour Greenway is an important component of the strategic inter-urban cycleway connecting Carrigaline with Cork City,” it said.

“The proposed route shall offer a connection to the ferry terminal facilitating access to Carrigaloe, Rushbrook, and Cobh.” 

The proposals will see the extension along the road for pedestrians and cyclists from an average of 2.8m wide to 4m wide.

It said this development is part of a larger programme of improvements along this route from Cork City to Crosshaven.

“The proposal to widen the pathway will improve shared usage of the pathway by pedestrian, runners and cyclists,” it said.

Cycling routes

The proposed route would also mean it could connect up with the EuroVelo network, a set of cycling routes linking countries across the continent. In Ireland, it extends from Larne in Antrim around the north, west and southern coasts via Kerry, Cork, and Waterford before ending in Rosslare.

Cork County Council’s planning documents noted that despite Passage West’s past importance as a shipbuilding and railway terminus, the last few decades have seen the retail core of the area decline.

It also said further population growth may be constrained by the town’s hilly topography and limited transportation infrastructure.

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The application to An Coimisún Pleanála received 69 public submissions. 

An inspector for the planning board said that general support was expressed for the greenway development and investment in the community, but a “significant number” of residents opposed the widening of the greenway from Haven Marine to the rowing club and playground in the town.

These concerns centred around aspects such as the removal of a historic railway wall, a lack of public consultation and the serious traffic problems that would be caused in the town during its construction.

Having analysed the concerns raised by locals and the documents submitted by the council, the An Coimisiún Pleanála inspector concluded that it would be appropriate to give the development a green light.