New park-and-share facility intended to tackle congestion in East Cork

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is developing a national park-and-share policy to address informal or unauthorised parking along hard shoulders.

Castlemartyr Co Cork, as the local authority has identified one potential site, the R632 in the town, just south of the N25, for a park-and-share facility. Picture: Larry Cummins

A new park-and-share facility has been identified for East Cork which it is hoped will reduce  worsening traffic congestion in the region.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is developing a national park-and-share policy to address informal or unauthorised parking along hard shoulders.

TII had asked Cork County Council for input in the development of the policy. 

The local authority has identified one potential site, the R632 in Castlemartyr, just south of the N25, where there is an established pattern of informal or unauthorised parking. The road links the village with Shanagarry, Ladysbridge, and Garryvoe.

This news was contained in a report presented to a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District.

The report was compiled by the council’s sustainable travel unit.

Park-and-share facilities are intended for motorists who meet at a designated location before travelling together in a single vehicle. The facilities would be located off-road.

Park-and-ride facilities

The council is also looking at creating park-and-ride facilities in the Midleton and Carrigtwohill areas.

The council has secured funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to develop a local transport plan for the two towns. It is expected that a technical adviser will be appointed before the end of this year to provide expertise in this process.

The NTA has conducted a demand analysis for further park-and-ride facilities in the Cork Metropolitan Area and will further examiner sites  in Dunkettle, adjacent to the N25, and one adjacent to the N71 between Ballinhassig and Cork City.

Fine Gael councillor Rory Cocking said the council should also develop a park-and-ride and share facility on the southside of Midleton.

Mr Cocking said an unofficial park-and-share is in operation on the hard shoulder on the Ballinacurra Road, which is causing difficulties for emergency services.

The council is to write to gardaí seeking action on the issue.

Council chairwoman Ann Marie Ahern (FF) said it would also ask the sustainable travel unit to examine the feasibility of a formal park-and-share facility in the area.

Local Link bus services

Meanwhile, Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan again called for extended Local Link bus services in the Midleton area to take more cars off the road, especially in smaller villages near the town.

The council will again write to the NTA, as the governing body for the service, on the matter, as well as seeking the expansion of the service in the Youghal area.

It follows a request made by Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley, who asked that the service include extra stops in Youghal’s Front Strand area for the summer to connect the beach with the town centre.

Ms Ahern asked that the service also connect Youghal with Tallow, Co Waterford.