City Hall does not have the money to remove unsightly concrete bollards 'bringing down the image' of Cork's northside

A SERIES of unsightly concrete bollards along the Kilmore Road will remain in situ for the foreseeable future because the city council does not have the estimated €112k cash to remove them.

The bollards were recently likened to border control measures in the North during the Troubles.

Local residents groups have long called for the bollards, which line the road all the way from Kilmore Road to the Churchfield Industrial Estate, to be removed as they believe they are leading to a negative image of the area.

They have also been described as similar to bollards used in the West Bank in Israeli army-controlled areas.

The concrete bollards were placed along the route as a temporary measure to prevent unofficial halting sites being established but were filled with concrete in recent years.

Councillor Thomas Gould had asked that the council would consider removing the bollards but this has been ruled out by City Hall director of environmental services Valerie O’Sullivan. However, Ms O’Sullivan added that possible future developments may see the removal of the bollards reconsidered.

She said: “Works required here involve removal of the existing palisade fencing between the two green areas fronting on to St Vincents [GAA club], construction of a concrete path to replace the fencing, removal of the concrete bollards on the northern side of Churchfield Road, re-construction of the footpaths where the bollards have been removed and construction of concrete plinth where there was no footpath but bollards have been removed.

“The estimated cost of the work is €112k with no funding available to complete same. It is expected that a planning application will be made shortly for a site adjacent to St Vincents which if approved should contribute to the enhancement of the public realm at this location," Ms O'Sullivan added.

Mr Gould told the Echo that the bollards are a hazard and are contributing to a negative image of the area with thousands of cars passing through the area on the way to Apple Cork and north Cork daily.

“They are absolutely horrible and they are bringing down the image of the whole of Kilmore Road.

“They stretch all the way from the entrance at St Vincent’s field, all the way through Churchfield Industrial Estate and up to Castleview and Temple United’s soccer pitches.

“Kids can’t walk on the road. People can’t walk with buggies or those with disabilities can’t use the footpath.

“It’s pushing walkers out onto the road. This is crazy stuff. They need to be taken away. They were a temporary measure that was put in to stop people parking on the footpath but they were filled fill of concrete and now they are there permanently,” Mr Gould added.