Councillor calls for clarity on Cork BusConnects proposals

There have been calls for clarity on the progression of BusConnects in Cork, with landowners set to receive letters about the acquisition of some of their properties this week.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has commenced issuing letters to homeowners whose property may be potentially impacted by BusConnects Cork.

They will receive a letter with a map showing the current understanding of the potential land extents required, and a questionnaire to be filled in.

The NTA highlighted that these do not form part of a formal compulsory purchase order (CPO) process, which will only commence when a CPO has been prepared and a statutory application has been submitted to An Bord Pleanála for its consideration and decision, which “is anticipated to happen later this year”.

Acquisitions

The acquisitions may include both the temporary and permanent acquisition of a portion of land, with proposed temporary acquisition being used to facilitate construction and later reinstated and returned to the landowner.

The NTA explains in the letters: “The preparation of documentation is ongoing for the formal applications for approval and the related compulsory acquisitions of lands which will be made to An Bord Pleanála later this year. It is anticipated that applications for the three standalone proposed schemes will be submitted on a phased basis beginning in mid-2025.

“If subsequently approved by An Bord Pleanála, the acquisition of the portions of properties included in the approved CPO would involve the payment of appropriate compensation in respect of the relevant properties.”

This latest development comes after three rounds of public consultation. The NTA has said that there will be a further opportunity to make submissions directly to the appeal board in relation to the proposed acquisitions.

Letters were issued yesterday to people along the Dunkettle to City line, the Mayfield to City line, the Blackpool to City line, and the Hollyhill to City line.

Letters relating to Airport Rd to City, Maryborough Hill to City, Mahon to City, and Kinsale Rd to Douglas will be issued later in the week.

The Ballincollig to City, Bishopstown to City, and Togher to City letters will be sent at the end of this week.

Sustainable transport corridors

The NTA also said the 11 sustainable transport corridors (STCs) that have been the subject of non-statutory public consultation have been combined into three standalone proposed schemes.

These are the Cork City North Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme, which combines the Dunkettle, Mayfield, Blackpool, and Hollyhill lines; the Cork City South West Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme for Ballincollig, Bishopstown, and Togher; and the Cork City South East Sustainable Transport Corridors Scheme, made up of Airport Rd, Maryborough Hill, Mahon, and Kinsale Rd.

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy told The Echo: “The moving on of the project is welcome, as has been the ongoing conversations between individuals and the NTA officials.

“It has been over a year since the third round of public consultation on the BusConnects corridors. All of us stakeholders involved are a little bit rusty on what conversations were had during the third round. A year is a long time in a community.

“I have written to the NTA to clarify and to publish what changes have been made arising out of the third round, so all involved are on the same page, so we all know the next steps of the process.”