Hopes for 2019 start for Ferney Road improvements

IT is hoped that plans to install footpaths as part of an upgrade to the growing residential area of the Ferney Road in Carrigaline can progress early next year once an oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála on land acquisition is completed.

The Ferney Road in Kilnaglery townland to the south-east of the Main Street of Carrigaline is close to the Carrigaline Educate Together School and the newly opened Edmund Rice secondary school, as well as a number of housing projects.

Plans to install a raft of measures to improve access for pedestrians were approved by the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District in March 2017 and Cork County Council served notice of compulsory purchase orders associated with the €715,000 works.

Construction of new footpaths, new uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, a public LED lighting scheme and a new road surface water drainage system is to be carried out as part of the works.

Councillors have repeatedly raised the issue, citing the lack of infrastructure in an area that is rapidly expanding.

Councillor Seamus McGrath said he hopes the works can progress in the new year and will take roughly six to eight months to complete.

“I understand an oral hearing is expected to take place in September and hopefully the Board will issue a decision soon after," he said.

“The Council intends to go to tender for the construction phase as soon as possible once the land acquisition is successfully concluded. Planning permission has been approved for the scheme and funding is in place.

“I fully recognise that the ongoing delay with this scheme is extremely frustrating. This road should have been upgraded long before now. Two schools were developed in the area as well as housing and it was a complete failure of the planning process that the upgrade of the Ferney road was not included,” he added.