A few ideas for the powers that be

WE are a small group with ideas we feel can be beneficial to this area, or even to the country as a whole, if they are implemented by the powers that be.

The following are some of our ideas:

1. A new ferry route should be inaugurated to serve Cork and La Coruna in Galicia, a Celtic region in northern Spain. This would be ideal for promoting trade and tourism between Ireland, Spain, Portugal and southern France. This service could provide two return sailings to Spain a week (the sailing time to Spain is approximately 23 hours), and one return sailing to Swansea, thus restoring the old ferry service from Cork to Wales (sailing time to Wales is nine to 10 hours).

2. A new €9 million hotel could be built in Fermoy on the old mart site, east of the town centre, providing 60 bedrooms and a convention centre for weddings and other functions.

3. A new €4 million bridge should be built in Fermoy, extending across from Pike Road (north river bank) to the hospital road (south river bank) and providing a walk/cycleway for tourists.

4. The provision of a Multiplex cinema in Fermoy on the site of the old Barry’s timber yard.

5. The area adjacent to Fermoy House along the river bank (north side) should remain a green belt area and could be developed as cycling, running or walking tracks.

6. Finally, the toll stations at Corrin, Fermoy, should be abolished to allow free access to the motorway at Corrin, reducing traffic congestion in the town.

The Fermoy project ideas represent good value for money in comparison to the €38 million flood plan for the town, a plan that may not work.

Michael Sheehan

The Munster Awareness Group

Greenhill

Fermoy

Co Cork