Unrepaired footpaths make parts of Ballinlough Park a ‘no-go area’

A LOCAL-election candidate has claimed that Cork City Council has allowed parts of a popular southside park to become a “no-go area”.

William O’Brien, who is running as an Independent in the Cork City South Central ward, claimed that residents in Douglas have described a section of footpath in Ballinlough Park as hazardous, due to potholes and vandalism.

“I have heard from local residents that footpaths opposite the Gus Healy Swimming Pool, in the Ballinlough Park, are now a no-go area,” Mr O’Brien told The Echo.

“This main section of the park is now a hazard for walkers, and I’ve heard reports of falls occurring here.

“There is a deep pothole right next to a park bench, and an uneven surface, after that section of pavement was vandalised by fire.”

Mr O’Brien said he had heard anecdotal reports of dogs becoming ill from drinking rainwater in the pothole puddles.

Mr O’Brien said he was asking on behalf of local residents that the council repair the footpath as a matter of urgency.

“Local residents in Douglas have great pride in their community and they would have been lost without the park during covid, but they feel they are been let down by the local authority.

“We need to see the footpaths repaired and then we must ensure that the cleansing regime matches the increase in public use of Ballinlough Park,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We need the city council to act and regularly clean this forgotten part of the park to ensure it is safe and clean for daily users.” There has been investment by the council in other areas of the park, with sections dedicated to children, and garden allotments, Mr O’Brien said, but, he said, “some people believed that the park needed to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone who visited it”.

Cork City Council was asked for a comment.