Residents of Spring Lane halting site have dismissed suggestions that they should leave the overcrowded site for a greenfield site in the city suburbs, saying at a public meeting tonight that they are “here to stay”.

Members of the Travelling community endorsed the City Council draft proposal to build houses in the recently-cleared Ellis’s Yard and said that they would allow nothing else on the site.

They rejecting proposals from city councillor Ken O’Flynn to rezone the area for sport and recreation uses.

One Spring Lane halting site resident who had lived at the site all his life said emphatically at what was a packed and heated meeting that the Travelling community would not be leaving the site.

“I want accommodation built in Ellis’s Yard for my family,” he said.

“Work with us, because we are not going anywhere.

“If it doesn’t happen in Ellis’s Yard, we are not going anywhere.”

A number of Ballyvolane residents highlighted problems regarding the overcrowded halting site in Spring Lane, including a spate of illegal dumping and horses on the footpaths and on roads.

They also expressed concern at the council’s proposal to build houses in Ellis’s Yard.

One Glen Heights resident, who had been living in the area for the past 44 years, said she had had enough of the problems in the area.

Another Ballyvolane resident said that the area had been “forgotten by the council”.

Louise Harrington from the Cork Traveller Women’s Network said the issue of illegal dumping was not right, and that the council needed to stop turning a blind eye and deal with the situation.

A Park Court resident said the biggest problem was the horses that were going up and down the road at speed.

“It is dangerous to have my grandchildren out,” she said. “I was outside the other day around 5pm and two horses came up the road, full belt.

“It was a miracle there wasn’t an injury or death.”

A man who said he works with the Travelling community compared having a love for horses to playing GAA.

“Some people are into hurling, some are into horses, the solution is not to take them away.

“Would you take away their hurleys?”

The meeting was organised by newly elected Labour Councillor John Maher, Fianna Fáil Councilor Ken O’Flynn and the Ballyvolane Residents Association. It was organised to offer information regarding the councils Draft Traveller Accommodation Programme for 2019 -2024 and all official bodies encouraged the residents of Ballyvolane to make their thoughts regarding the draft document known to the council using the official channels.

To make a submission regarding the council’s draft plans email tau@corkcity.ie.