Bandon community projects stalled by uncertainty over relief road route, meeting hears 

The council’s director of services for roads and transport said he hoped to show council members the selected option before Christmas

The council’s written report says the N71 Bandon bypass extension is nearing the end of its options-selection phase. File picture

Community groups seeking sites for new facilities in Bandon are being held back by uncertainty over the route of the town’s southern relief road, a councillor has warned. 

Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury said groups could not properly assess potential sites while the emerging road route remained unidentified.

Cork County Council has promised councillors a briefing in November, with officials hoping to present the selected option before Christmas. 

Speaking at the council’s Western Division committee, Ms Bambury said she was involved in several groups trying to advance community facilities in Bandon.

She said the unresolved route was making it difficult to identify suitable land, with potential funding opportunities approaching.

“By not having an identified emerging route, that is going to stall community groups’ ability to identify potential sites,” she said. Ms Bambury called for urgency, saying clarity on the road was essential to allow other projects in the town to progress.

Independent Ireland councillor John Collins also sought a timetable for bringing the preferred route before members, saying the issue was regularly raised with him.

The council’s director of services for roads and transport, Pádraig Barrett, acknowledged that an earlier commitment to return to councillors during the third quarter of the year had not been met.

Mr Barrett said he would provide an update at the November municipal district meeting and hoped to show members the selected option before Christmas.

He asked councillors and the public to bear with the council while the route was being assessed. 

“I think it’s important that we find the right route,” he said.

Mr Barrett said members would be briefed before the route was published for the wider public.

The council’s written report says the N71 Bandon bypass extension is nearing the end of its options-selection phase.

A draft options report is being finalised and a junction strategy is being prepared. 

Further assessments of route options are taking place following a September peer review by senior Transport Infrastructure Ireland inspectors. The scheme has a €650,000 allocation for 2026.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.