Lower Glanmire Road steps near Cork train station open to public

The steps by the Dean Hotel on Lower Glanmire Rd have opened to the public, Cork city councillors have confirmed.

Green Party councillor Oliver Moran had been engaging with Cork City Council officials about the steps, which have been blocked off with boarding, and on which someone had graffiti-tagged the slogan, ‘Open the Steps’.

On Friday, officials confirmed that the developer would open the steps at the weekend.

Mr Moran said: “It’s been a long journey from the installation of the pedestrian crossing to now finally opening the steps, but it’s good to finally see.

“They’ll make commuting via the train station easier, as well as knit the new community in the docklands into the wider Lower Glanmire Rd and St Luke’s area.”

Mr Moran added: “The redevelopment of the North Docks is flying ahead, and the progress on cost-rental apartments is great to see.

“The opening now, finally, of these steps signals that the area itself is open for people.

“The public consultation that opened this week on the framework plan for the Cork Docklands shows the potential.

“The steps are just one small win, but a journey along the route to a broader, exciting vision.”

Delighted 

Labour’s John Maher said he was “delighted” that the steps would finally be open for the public to use and will open up the area to other parts of the city, as well as provide another route to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“This opens up the city for the people of the North East Ward and visitors to our city, allowing them to cut down on to the North Docks and on to amenities like the Marina Walk and Marina Market,” Mr Maher said.

“It will also create a quicker route to Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

“What we must learn from this is that it shouldn’t take this long the next time, when it comes to delivering on planning obligations.

“This is great news, and I welcome the opening of the steps.

“It’s such an exciting time for this part of the city and I look forward to seeing continued investment in housing and public amenities and infrastructure.”