Time for some expansive thinking

In the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government, Putting People First 2012, it states that “there would, accordingly, appear to be a good case in principle for considering a boundary alteration in Cork with a view to creating a wider Cork Metropolitan area.

“The initiative in this regard rests primarily with the local authorities. It is envisaged that if suitable arrangements are not finalised within a maximum of five years, the power of ministerial initiative would be invoked.”

Thus by 2017 the new arrangements should become clear, at the latest.

Now Cork City Council is currently embarking on public consultation on a new City Development Plan for the period 2015-2021. Cork County is also undertaking a review of its Development Plan for the period 2015-2021. The city will prepare the plan for its existing administrative area; it is precluded from including those areas where it is envisaged it will have administrative control following the boundary extension.

It would appear to me to be a good idea to synchronise these events, otherwise six years will be lost in benefiting from the enhanced institutional arrangements proposed in the Department’s Action Programme for Effective Local Government. One possible solution would be for the County and City Councils to now prepare joint local area plans for contiguous development areas that are likely to be subsumed into an expanded city such as the Tramore Road/Kinsale Road area and Ballyvolane.

The outcomes of these could inform the respective new development plans. This will benefit communities and property owners in these areas. To me it would not be good planning to prepare a plan for the city for the period 2015-2021, without incorporation the boundary adjustment for future development as envisaged in paragraph 7.3.5 of the department’s report.

The extent of this adjustment should be clear by 2017, at the latest; halfway into the period of the new development plan.

It is recognised that there is a long tradition of close and excellent co-operation between Cork City and County, but as outlined in the department’s report a better future arrangement is an expanded city. This, in my view, will create a new dynamic for the enhanced development of Cork.

Kevin Terry

Cloyne

Co Cork