All About Cork: Slow progress on walking and cycling scheme

The Glen to Mayfield Walking and Cycling Scheme is to go for statutory approval this year, local councillors have been told.

At the latest meeting of the North East local area committee (LAC), Labour councillor John Maher mentioned the need for the new walkway in Tinker’s Cross to be extended.

He proposed that Cork City Council develop a plan that allows for the extension of the new walkway in Tinker’s Cross, along the Glen River Valley to Ballyvolane and on to the Glen River Park.

He was told: “As part of The Glen to Mayfield Walking and Cycling study, a continuous route for cyclists and pedestrians between the N20 in Blackpool, along The Glen and Mayfield areas of Cork city, terminating at Tinker’s Cross, is currently being identified.”

This project includes the provision of new pedestrian and cycle facilities, the upgrading of pedestrian-and-cycle facilities, and more.

The project has been in progress for a long time.

Consultants were appointed in Q3 2021, with concept and option selection completed in 2023. Preliminary design has been underway since then.

At the end of May 2024, Green Party councillor Oliver Moran had asked, in an LAC meeting, for the current status of a route for the Mayfield to Glen Walking and Cycling Scheme.

He was told that the scheme would run between the N20 in Blackpool, along The Glen and Mayfield areas of Cork city, terminating at Tinker’s Cross, and that the improvement of the walkway between the North Ring Rd and Spring Lane is to be included in the final proposals.

Gerry O’Beirne, director of infrastructure development in the council, told him at the time: “The proposals for the new facility will be finalised over the summer months, with details to be presented to the area committee in advance of public consultation under the Part 8 planning process. Further updates will be provided to members on the scheme as it progresses.”

At the most recent LAC meeting, Mr Maher was told: “Feeder routes to the proposed main route linking the new walkway in Tinker’s Cross, Glen River Park, Tarry Path, Spring Lane, residential estates and other destinations will form part of the scheme.

“It is anticipated that The Glen to Mayfield Walking and Cycling study will go for statutory approval later this year and members will be given a briefing and update on proposals in advance.”

Councillors raise issues of concern in Mayfield

As well as updates on The Glen to Mayfield Walking and Cycling Scheme, local councillors also raised issues around illegal dumping and road safety at the latest local area committee meeting.

Labour’s John Maher proposed that Cork City Council improve and upgrade the pedestrian crossings at the Tinkers Cross junction.

He was told: “Tinkers Cross has been added to the list of areas that will be assessed for an upgrade to the pedestrian crossings should funding be made available.”

However, the council spokesperson added: “Currently there is no city council funding available for this type of works. However, we will retain the project for future roads programmes should funds be made available.”

Another motion by Mr Maher called for clean up of illegal dumping in The Glen River Park, saying that the council had previously committed to this.

He was told: “The Glen River Park has a regular and routine maintenance schedule, including litter collection. Where illegal dumping is recorded it is dealt with in a timely manner by parks staff.”

The Green Party’s Oliver Moran also raised a motion relating to this park, proposing that the council “install a sheltered structure to provide a communal focus and host small-scale community gatherings” there.

However, he was told that the park “is an unsupervised public amenity, which has no public lighting and is accessible 24 hours a day”, and that a sheltered structure would not be practical for this reason, though they did say that the council owns the nearby Glen Resource and Sports Centre, where meeting rooms can be booked.

Another motion by Mr Moran asked for the dates the gullies in the North East ward were cleaned in 2024 and the work programme conducted so far and planned for 2025. He was told that the council has a dedicated gully cleaning crew of eight men, and there are approximately 25,000 gullies in Cork city.

Paul Moynihan, director of local area development and operations, said: “Over 46,000 gully cleaning operations were undertaken in 2024.

“Gullies in flood prone areas are cleaned on a more frequent basis and calls to CRM are responded to.”

He added: “The information requested relating specifically to the North East ward is not currently easily accessible but Cork City Council is reviewing the records of gully cleaning, and working towards an enhanced digital recording system for gully operations which can be reported in the monthly chief executive report and will be put in place during 2025.”

Mayfield CDP courses

Easy cookery starts on Friday, May 2, from 10.30am to 12.30pm for four Friday mornings.

Smart phone/computer tablet support starts Tuesday, May 6, from 12.15pm to 1.45pm for three afternoon sessions.

All courses are run in the Mayfield CDP Community Resource Centre, 328 Old Youghal Rd, and are funded by the Cork Education and Training Board. To book a place, contact Mayfield CALP on 021 4508562 or email mayfieldcalp1@outlook.com.

Mayfield Library events

The pupils of Scoil Mhuire agus Eoin, Mayfield, visited Mayfield Library earlier this month to contribute to Cork’s 20th Lifelong Learning Festival. The school choir, composed of pupils from fourth, fifth, and sixth classes, performed a selection of songs.

Librarian Richard Forrest told The Echo: “The beaming smiles and strong delivery gave a clear indication of a young choir with pride in itself.”

The robotics team put on a display of “the painstaking work they have been busy with in recent months”.

“The pupils introduced three robots that they constructed and programmed in school, along with a soft ball, which the robots proceeded to play with,” he said. “It was an entertaining spectacle and a fabulous achievement by the pupils and their teacher-mentors.”

SAFE in Glanmire

Volunteers are needed for SAFE (Suicide Awareness For Everyone) in Glanmire, to rejuvenate the group.

The group was formed in 2009, following a number of suicides in the community, and is dedicated to advocating, facilitating, empowering and supporting suicide awareness and mental health. Their next meeting is Tuesday, May 20, at 6.30pm in the parish room.

Heart checks

Irish Heart Foundation will be in Glanmire next month to warn that two in three adults over 50 have high blood pressure, but half don’t know it, and to encourage people to “get checked, before damage is done”.

They will be offering free blood pressure and pulse checks at Ryan’s SuperValu, 4A Crestfield Centre, Riverstown, Glanmire, T45 AH01, on Thursday, May 8, from 9am to 3.45pm.

During a heart health check, their expert nurses will check your blood pressure and pulse, and provide heart health information and advice.

Glanmire performance

The Glen Theatre Banteer Drama Group will put on a performance of

Dying to Meet You

, a comedy written by Ron Hutson and directed by Tadhg O’Keeffe, in Glanmire next month.

The play will take place in the Upper Glanmire Community Centre on Friday, May 9, at 8pm, with doors open from 7.30pm.

Admission is €15, and booking is essential. Contact Bernie Kenny on 087 9645496, or The Boothouse Bar 087 9421649, or Jerry Burke 087 9816481.

Have Mayfield news to share? Contact amy.campbell@theecho.ie