Docklands should revert to pre-industrial use as public parkland

ON a recent visit to the Cork Vision Centre I noted the recently-published proposals for the redevelopment of the South Docks area of Cork city.

The plan pretty much follows the usual ‘ABC’ formula for ‘wealth generation’ in contemporary Ireland: ‘A’ for Apartments, ‘B’ for Building and ‘C’ for Construction.

The South Docks area was originally a large public parkland and racecourse which was very appropriately developed as an industrial area in the 1950s and ‘60s when such industrialisation was really needed.

Since then the nature and location of industry in Cork has changed a lot — much of it is now ‘big pharma’ located around the lower harbour.

The Port of Cork company is planning also to relocate downriver, which is why the area is freeing up for redevelopment.

Now that the South Docks area has done it’s industrial duty, so to speak, may I suggest that the most appropriate use for the area — from a public perspective — would be for it to revert to its original form and function as a public parkland.

With its growing population — many of whom live in apartments — Cork city may now have an even greater need of such public spaces than it did back in Victorian times when the city authorities originally instructed that the park be laid out.

The ‘new’ park would have all its original advantages being located along a lovely riverside as well as being just a very short walk downstream from the city centre.

Stan Reynolds

The Old Schoolhouse

Toames West

Macroom

Co Cork