Flowerbeds in Cork city ‘neglected', claims local election candidate

A LOCAL election candidate has criticised Cork City Council for what he has called its “rampant neglect” of flowerbeds in parts of the southside.

Trevor McCarthy, who is a Sinn Féin candidate in Cork City South West, said plant and flower beds established in early 2023 had originally been designed to crown the finishing of public realm works as part of the Douglas Flood relief scheme.

He said that while they had been envisioned as havens for pollinators with a blend of trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials flowers, the result was far from the initial concept.

Mr McCarthy, who works as a professional horticulturalist, claimed there was “rampant neglect evident across the beds, despite Cork City Council tendering the maintenance of the area to a contractor”.

“Large sections of low buxus hedging have withered away, leaving unsightly gaps now occupied by species like dock, dandelion, buttercup, nettles, and gorse. The perennials that managed to survive the botched planting remain untrimmed, adding to the bedlam,” he said.

He added that the state of the flowerbeds undermined efforts by local organisations like Togher Tidy Towns to maintain the community space.

“Cork City Council need to decide if Togher will fall under the remit of parks and recreation department or if a private contractor with specific horticultural skills will be employed to maintain the area in the future on a long term basis. We need to see a long term plan.

Stephen Scully, who is communication liaison officer of Cork City Council’s parks and recreation department, said the council had a very strong record of support for Togher, working regularly with many community and sports organisations in the area.

“The parks and recreation department daily maintains Clashduv Park to a high level, and also would be responsible for grass maintenance in the wider Togher area.

“We have encouraged and supported the provision of a large community garden in recent years in Togher [through Green Spaces for Health] and work very closely with Togher Tidy Towns and Togher Community Association in supporting initiatives to help enhance the area further,” Mr Scully said.

“There is an issue with the maintenance schedule of a planting scheme on a section of Togher Road following completion of the Togher Flood Relief Scheme and it is expected that this will be addressed shortly.”