We need trains — not trucks

A WORD in praise of Bord Pleanála.

I think its decision to reject the proposed container terminal downstream in Cork harbour is fantastic as it would have resulted in a huge increase in lorry traffic causing road congestion with adverse effects on residents.

I wish somebody would now look at the utter hell caused by lorries with huge cargoes passing through small towns in west Cork and how this traffic has caused pollution, congestion and noise, all of it unacceptable.

Regardless of the fuel costs and congestion, the hardship caused to ordinary people by truck rat-runs was obviously a factor in the harbour terminal ruling. An Bord Pleanála should be congratulated for this. Now the Port of Cork company should build a rail link to facilitate its business and go about things with more commonsense and regard for residents’ rights.

And let’s have a rail link to west Cork so that we can rid our small towns of the huge trucks that force their way through day and night delivering goods that should always have been moved by rail.

Jacqueline Cotter

Gortnaclohy Heights

Skibbereen

Co Cork