Public consultation on pedestrian works in Cork village opens

PLANS for pedestrian improvement works in a small Cork city village, where residents have previously expressed concerns of car dependency due to a lack of footpaths, have gone to public consultation.

Cork City Council has published the ‘Kerry Pike Pedestrian Improvement Scheme’ with submissions and observations on the local authority’s plans now invited.

Members of the Clogheen/Kerry Pike Community Association have previously expressed frustration over the lack of a continuous footpath through the village of Kerry Pike and have campaigned for improvements, along with traffic calming measures to combat speeding.

The Kerry Pike Pedestrian Improvement Scheme now proposes to deliver new footpaths to provide a continuous footpath provision through the village.

Other elements of the scheme include the provision of new controlled zebra crossings, new uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, traffic calming measures in the form of raised tables to encourage lower vehicle speeds through the village, and new road markings and signage.

“As an association we have been trying for many years now to get infrastructural improvements in Clogheen / Kerry Pike and are delighted to see some movement on this,” chair of the Clogheen/Kerry Pike Community Association, Iain McGregor, told The Echo.

Mr McGregor said there has been an “explosion in houses” in the village in recent years, with more in the pipeline, and that infrastructure has not kept pace with the level of development.

“The village itself doesn't have a continuous footpath throughout and children going to the national school less than 1km away have to be driven.

“Speeding is also a big issue and raised platforms and additional signage will hopefully go some way to addressing this.

“A lot of the housing estates feel like islands as there is little connectivity with the rest of the village,” he explained.

“This is Cork City Council’s plan for the village and they will be holding a public consultation presentation on March 14 between 1pm and 7pm in the community centre in Kerry Pike,” he added.

Mr McGregor encouraged locals to attend on the day and to have their say on the plan.

The public consultation is open until April 15 at 4pm.

For further information see consult.corkcity.ie/.