Local elections 2024: Transport, housing, and local amenities to the fore in Cork City South East ward

SIX sitting councillors and a number of new faces will go to the polls for the city’s South East ward when the next council is elected this June.

The ward comprises the areas of Blackrock, Mahon, Beaumont, Ballintemple, Ballinlough, Douglas, Maryborough Hill, Donnybrook, Garryduff and Rochestown.

With a number of developments, including in the docklands and Marina, either ongoing or in the pipeline, the topics of transport, housing, policing and the provision of local amenities have certainly been to the fore.

“There’s been a lot of development in the ward during the term of this council, compared to others,” said Councillor Terry Shannon (FF), who has retained his seat on the council for 25 years.

“For instance, we’ve seen the Marina Promenade started, we’ve seen the Marina Park development, the upgrade of the playground in Ballinlough, and a basketball area going in there shortly.

“The upgrade of the Mahon public realm is underway, which will be fantastic.

“That’s providing a car park for Ringmahon Rangers, an extra car park for the church, 10 new bus shelters, three new pedestrian crossings, new footpaths and roads as well as 200 new trees.

“The issue there has been the cycle lanes, which have been controversial, and I’m dealing with businesses and residents to try to alleviate some of the issues there,” he added.

“We’ve had quite a bit of housing development as well, including new builds, both private and public, providing social, affordable and cost-rental accommodation in the ward.”

Mr Shannon highlighted the importance of upgrading Mahon playground, addressing footpath concerns, finally building the Mahon library, and continuing the redevelopment of Avenue de Rennes.

Community policing 

Other topics to the fore in the South East ward are community policing and anti-social behaviour, issues which Councillor Mary Rose Desmond (FF) said are of particular concern at the moment.

“We are extremely lucky to have the community policing team that we do have in Douglas,” the chair of the Douglas Policing Forum stated.

“That said, we do need to see more gardaí assigned to Cork.

“Housing remains a high priority,” she added, “particularly for those looking to buy their first home.”

Ms Desmond also highlighted the need for work on footpaths in the ward, saying: “It is the primary mode of active travel for people, and we are currently working towards a scheme within the council that should allow us to borrow to see meaningful work done on our existing footpaths and not just new schemes.”

Transport 

Addressing transport in the area, she added: “BusConnects is a scheme that offers great potential for a much-improved public transport and reduced traffic congestion. However, it must be done in consultation with residents and businesses alike.

“Douglas Village is very close to my own heart and I believe it has yet to reach its full potential,” Ms Desmond stated further. “We need to see an improved public realm, and dereliction and vacant sites dealt with to bring back the village feel.”

Current Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Kieran McCarthy, set out his priorities for the ward over the next five years, if re-elected.

“We need to continue to invest in the south east’s 15 green spaces, especially in tree addition,” he said. “More and more playground provision needs to be built across all areas.

“[We need to] finish and bed down the Marina Promenade and Marina Park Phase 2 project, and Passage West Greenway Phase 2 project at Rochestown; get started on the creation of further parkland at Bessboro; plan for green spaces in upper Donnybrook ridges at Moneygourney and Castletreasure; roll out the Beaumont community walled garden project; and see the extension of Mangala walkway upwards and alongside the stream valley, connecting to the new housing estates. There is a challenge to balance housing and recreational needs,” he said.

Addressing transport and roads issues, Mr McCarthy said the council should continue to rebuild the local road maintenance fund, and focus on estate roads and expanding the footpath repair work programme.

“Two corridors of Bus Connects will roll out across the area creating more efficient bus movement, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. As it is being rolled out there will be a strong need for continuous liaising between the National Transport Authority and the general public.

Mr McCarthy also called for a “further allocation between the council and central Government for sustainable affordable and social housing”.

Pipeline projects 

Long-serving councillor, Des Cahill (FG), also highlighted the need to progress projects that have been promised for the area.

“There’s a long list of projects either ongoing or in the pipeline, including some in the Rochestown and surrounding areas that we had hoped to see work started on at this stage,” he said. “It’s disappointing with some of them but others have started and some have finished.

“I’ve been through three elections now and there’s never been more construction, more developments — it’s been a phenomenal output,” he added.

“Two big gaping holes are the youth centre and library — the solution to that will be combining both. It will be very exciting to finally deliver a fit-for-purpose youth club, along with a library.

“There’s a lot of house building going on in the area so the services to supplement that need to be delivered.”

With Fine Gael under new leadership nationally, Mr Cahill said he is confident the party will maintain its seven seats in City Hall, and only geographical reasons will stop them gaining more.

“Myself and my colleagues have all worked hard and, in local elections, you get rewarded if you’ve worked hard and punished if you haven’t.”

Councillor Deirdre Forde is another sitting FG councillor who will be asking for the support of voters when at the polls stations on June 7.

“I have consistently been advocating for a real change in our approach to delivering on the various social issues, including affordable and social housing, specifically for affordable and those that wish to downsize,” she said.

The former lord mayor also called for “proper investment at local level, which must include more gardaí for the greater Douglas area”.

“The increase in garda station opening hours and higher visibility in our communities is vital.”

Ms Forde also called for the old Cork prison to be repurposed to address local crime and anti-social behaviour.

Highlighting the need for improved footpath and road conditions in the area, Ms Forde said: “There is a need to address the condition of our footpaths and roads, with stronger investment to increase repairs and upgrades.”

The Fine Gael councillor added that SMEs are the backbone of all our communities and “stronger local support to ensure the survival of businesses must be a priority for all”.

Commercial rates 

An Rabharta Glas councillor, Lorna Bogue, is another seeking re-election in the ward.

“My single biggest priority in the next council is changing the commercial rates scheme to ensure more money is brought in from major corporations in the city to fund social housing and emergency services,” said Ms Bogue.

“The council needs extra resources because the housing market has completely failed to absorb strong population growth, especially in the extended city boundaries.

“The current council has spectacularly failed in extending the very basics such as full-time fire services to the new parts of the city,” she added. “It has also driven up the price of housing through large-scale rezoning, while not building and procuring enough social housing.

“My main priority for the South East LEA particularly is ensuring that the Douglas Local Area Plan for which I have secured council support deals with the several interlocking issues affecting Douglas village and those who pass through it,” Ms Bogue stated further.

“Business owners and residents need to have more input on BusConnects.

“Recent rezoning and planning decisions which have worsened the situation in Douglas need to be reassessed and public realm works are needed in the centre of the village.”