Online petition demands 'immediate implementation' of Cork road-safety measures

AN online petition demanding the “immediate implementation” of road-safety measures in the Kilcully area has been launched.

The petition, set up by local resident Charlie Clarke, seeks the urgent progression of speed-reduction initiatives, improved street lighting, and construction of footpaths.

Mr Clarke alleged that “the implementation dates keep getting pushed back to 2025 and beyond”.

“Meanwhile, serious crashes continue to occur at an alarming rate,” Mr Clarke said.

“This is not just about Kilcully; Dublin Hill, Ballincrokig, Whitechurch Rd, Carrignavar and Ballinahina Rd are also affected. We live with the constant fear of high-speed traffic tearing through our neighbourhoods. Our roads lack adequate lighting and footpaths, making it extremely dangerous for pedestrians.”

“We cannot wait any longer while lives are at risk. The Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents’ Association is calling on Cork City Council to take urgent action now. 

"We demand immediate implementation of road-safety measures, including speed-reduction initiatives, improved street lighting, and [the] construction of footpaths,” Mr Clarke added.

Meeting

As reported in The Echo earlier this week, the Kilcully and Ballincrokig Residents’ Association 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.

In 2022, €400,000 was allocated by the National Transport Authority (NTA), under active travel investment grants, to the ‘Kilcully and Upper Glanmire Pedestrian Improvement Scheme’.

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

The scheme is to include 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.

Protesting

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 last 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 because of recent road-traffic incidents.

Responding, the council’s director of infrastructure development, Gerry O’Beirne, said that works on the Upper Glanmire Pedestrian Safety Scheme — phase one of a two-part project that 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.