Residents in Kilcully 'seriously disappointed' and planning protest if pedestrian and traffic calming works do not begin

RESIDENTS in the Kilcully area have sought a commitment for the urgent progression of pedestrian improvement works and traffic calming measures, with a protest planned if such a commitment does not materialise.

The Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents Association last week held a meeting to discuss pedestrian and road safety concerns.

Chair of the association, Joan Lewis, in an email to Cork City Council said that residents are “seriously disappointed” that pedestrian improvement works and traffic calming measures have not yet materialised.

“Kilcully /Ballincrokig is extremely dangerous for walkers due to the traffic volume travelling from Whitechurch and Mallow Rd,” she continued.

Ms Lewis said locals are very concerned by motorists speeding in the area and said there have been a number of collisions in both recent weeks and previous years.

In February last year, Cork city councillors approved Part 8 planning of the Kilcully Pedestrian Safety Scheme, which went to public consultation in the November prior.

The scheme is set to include the provision of 1.6km of new footpaths, a new pedestrian bridge crossing the Glennamought River, a raised pedestrian crossing and reduction in junction radii to 6m, 43 new public lighting columns, and improved drainage infrastructure.

Ms Lewis said that residents will be protesting ahead of the next full council meeting on April 8 if a commitment to completing the works by year end is not given before then.

At the full council meeting in March, Green Party councillor Oliver Moran had sought an update on the scheme and asked if its delivery would be accelerated following recent road traffic incidents.

Responding, the council’s director of infrastructure development, Gerry O’Beirne, said works on the Upper Glanmire Pedestrian Safety Scheme — phase one of a two-part project which is expected to later take in Kilcully —are “progressing well” and are expected to be “substantially complete in Q2 2024”, however, he said the proposed Kilcully works “will take longer to deliver due to the need for land acquisition, project funding and completion of detailed design and environmental surveys”.

“Subject to continued funding for the scheme, it is expected that the detailed design and land acquisition for the project will be progressed in 2025 with procurement to follow thereafter,” Mr O’Beirne added.

FRUSTRATION

Speaking following the Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents Association meeting this week, Mr Moran said residents are frustrated over the lack of progress in delivering the works.

“It's frustrating for residents of the area.

“They have been highlighting the need for the scheme, which was agreed by Cork City Council in February of last year.

“Today, the area is without any pedestrian infrastructure. It's experienced several serious car crashes,” he said.

“A new bus route is planned for the area from the start of next year.

“Without pedestrian infrastructure in place first, it's hard to see how that will work out.

“People simply don't feel safe walking without a safety scheme in place.

“Will they be waiting at the side of the road at a bus stop with no footpath?

“So, it's a priority to delivery from a number of different angles.

“What the local councillors agreed with residents now was to facilitate a meeting with city engineers.

“We all want to understand why the timelines seem so far out to deliver a project that's so badly needed. I don't believe it's a matter of funding.

“There's no shortage of active travel investment.

“The project needs to be given the necessary priority to deliver it urgently.”