Safety compromised for sailing in Cork Harbour

An Bord Pleanala, in permitting The Port of Cork to move its container port, in Tivoli, to Ringaskiddy, has overturned its own decision of seven years ago not to grant permission, and has now overruled its own inspector, who had recommended refusal.

The reasons for the refusal are still the same: lack of a rail head and inadequate infrastructure, but An Bord Pleanala have accepted based on the potential of road improvements and the future development of Marino Point, something not examined at the oral hearing. This could not be proper planning.

If a site is deemed unsuitable for a development, then no applicant should be able to apply again for the same development on the same site.

This has great relevance to Cork Harbour, as Indaver are threatening to put in a third application for an incinerator. This could become a war of attrition between the developer and the community, whereby the community has no closure, after l4 years of engagement.

The confidence of the public in our planning process has been shattered in the Cork Harbour region, where our expectation was that no project would be approved if it was socially, economically or environmentally inappropriate.

All the potential for a safe area for our sailing club, in existence for over 30 years, has been compromised, and the future of our new marina, which has planning for an extension, has been ignored.

The enclosure of commons that this planning approval will bring is a tragedy for all of us, but particularly for Ringaskiddy.

Mamie Bowen

Glenville

Monkstown

Co Cork