Cork sports clubs find out about impact of changed Luas route day after Irish Examiner report

Officers of both clubs have asked to see maps showing the precise revised route, the Transport Infrastructure Ireland has declined to do so

When the emerging preferred route was published last year, concerns were raised about a light rail system sharing the notoriously busy Wilton Rd with cars and buses. Picture: LuasCork.ie

Two prominent Cork sports clubs were contacted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) only after the Irish Examiner reported that changes to the planned route of the city's Luas could impact their grounds.

Those proposed changes are part of the preferred route for the promised €1bn-plus light rail system — which is due to be published next week — and differ from last year's emerging preferred route (EPR).

The EPR had shown the Cork Luas running eastward along Bishopstown Rd beside the front boundary of Cork University Hospital (CUH) and turning left at the Wilton roundabout.

The preferred route will see the light rail turning left west of CUH, heading north and east and cutting through several housing estates, while also likely impacting Bishopstown GAA Club and Highfield RFC.

Members of both clubs have privately expressed unhappiness that they have not been shown how the preferred route will affect their grounds, with one saying: “Whatever your code, a playing field has to conform to precise measurements. If you lop off a corner, then it’s no longer any use to you.” 

It is understood that a TII representative contacted the clubs the day after this newspaper reported on the preferred route, and agreed to meet them on Monday, April 13, days before the preferred route would be published.

However, while officers of both clubs had asked to see maps showing the precise revised route, the TII declined to do so. The preferred route is due to be published at 11am on Friday, April 17, starting a new round of non-statutory public consultation.

'Deeply worried'

Local representatives have expressed disquiet at the way in which TII has handled the dissemination of information about the preferred route, and have called for its early publication.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, said TII and the National Transport Authority (NTA) needed to publish the route so locals could have clarity.

“It is deeply unfair for communities to find out about such drastic changes to their environments, without being in a position to even know the details of what is proposed,” he said.

“I will be engaging with the NTA and TII and urging them to publish their proposals, so that clubs and residents can engage properly and have a proper dialogue about what will work, and what will not work.” 

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Similarly, Terry Coleman, Fianna Fáil councillor for Bishopstown, said he was also calling for the “immediate” publication of the route.

“I have been approached by numerous residents in the vicinity of both Bishopstown GAA and Highfield, and they are deeply worried about the adverse effects of the new preferred route,” he said. “Having to wait until April 17 is causing huge angst to people.” 

A senior Government official told the Irish Examiner that they were hopeful that extensive compulsory purchase orders would not prove necessary, and their feeling was that the new route could work without major demolition in what is a very developed area.

They added: “Nobody wants to see houses knocked if it can be helped”.

A Bishopstown GAA Club spokesperson declined to comment. Highfield did not reply to requests for comment.