All About Cork: Public consultation open for proposed Mahon housing

A public consultation has been opened for a proposed housing development at the former Abode site in Mahon.

The planned development will consist of 22 residential units at the former Abode site on the Skehard Rd, which has been vacant for a number of years.

The units will consist of four two-storey townhouses and 18 apartments, broken into seven one-bed units, 10 two-bed units, and one three-bed unit, spread across a three- and four-storey building.

The development will range in height from two to four storeys.

The project, located at Ballinure Avenue, will be delivered by Clúid Housing in partnership with Cork City Council.

The plans also provide for all associated ancillary site and landscape works, including replacement of the vehicular and pedestrian gates at the entrance, and 20 car-parking spaces.

The Independent councillor for the Cork City South East ward, Kieran McCarthy, urged anyone who has any concerns to make a submission before the closing date, which is in September.

“The former Abode site in Mahon has been vacant for some time, with no project proposal successful in getting across the line there,” said Mr McCarthy.

“There were charity building proposals and library proposals that didn’t get off the ground on the site.

“The newly-proposed, 22 social-housing units for the site is a big project.

“I know there are a few concerns locally on the provision of car parking for the eventual tenants and I have always been of the view that the architectural build must also fit into the overall sense of place of a locality and should somewhat blend with the local architectural types,” Mr McCarthy said.

“The public consultation is now open for comments on the city council’s consultation portal until early September.

“After the public consultation, a report will be prepared on the issues raised, amendments made, if needs be, and a vote taken by members of the city council, probably sometime in mid-October.”

Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development can be made in writing, to Gerard O’Connor, acting programme manager, housing directorate, Cork City Council, City Hall, Anglesea St, Cork T12 T997, and online through: https://consult.corkcity.ie/.

The closing date for any submissions and for any observations is Monday, September 1 at 4pm.

‘Put emergency-vehicle parking bays in residential areas’

An urgent call for emergency-vehicle parking bays to be put in place across residential and commercial developments has been made by Labour Party councillor for the Cork City South East ward, Peter Horgan.

Mr Horgan’s comments follow the creation of a working group to ensure defibrillators as a requirement of planning.

“I am satisfied that the creation of the working group will ensure that this can be a city-wide push on making the provision of defibrillators a requirement of planning in new residential estates and buildings,” said Mr Horgan.

“We now will see a proper working group established that will take in planning and also the emergency services.

“This is a crucial piece of planning, linked with public health,” he added.

“This working group will take in not only the docklands, our new city-within-a-city, but the wider city administrative area, also.”

While the creation of this group is progress, Mr Horgan is additionally calling for provision to be made for spaces at each quarter area for emergency-vehicle parking.

“From speaking with frontline emergency-services personnel, this is a small measure that could just bring a peace of mind for those frontline workers attending medical call-outs,” said Mr Horgan.

“Having dedicated parking bays, or areas for emergency set-down, removes any concern-of-access issues in residential or commercial developments.

“While I would have liked to have seen this pushed forward for the docklands as an exemplar, I am satisfied that the working group established will now examine it in a city-wide context,” Mr Horgan said.

“I am looking forward to engaging stakeholders across the city in this.”

Bus stop enhancement works in Mahon and Blackrock

While enhancement works are taking place across a range of bus stops in Cork, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed the next suite of disruptions to take place within the Cork City South East ward.

A representative from the NTA said the agency is “now at the stage where we are informing people of the next batch of works which are due to get underway in the next two to three months at 82 additional locations”.

Six bus stops within the Mahon and Blackrock area will be impacted, including: Blackrock Rd eastbound (Barrington’s Ave), Blackrock Rd westbound (Beaumont Ave), Blackrock Rd (Menloe Ave), Mahon Point Shopping Centre northbound, Marquee Rd northbound, and Marquee Rd southbound.

Representatives from the Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism are calling on participants of this year’s Echo Women’s Mini Marathon to choose their club as a charity sponsor.

The Rainbow Club Cork, located at the Mahon Community Centre on Avenue De Rennes, is a professional child-centred post diagnostic service provider, which aims to provide skills, support and a community hub for children and young people from the autistic community and their families.

In a post shared on social media a spokesperson said: “Your help will allow us to continue to provide supports, services, increase our offering and expand our services to help more children, teens, and young adults.”

Rainbow Club marathon call

The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon is set to take place from 1pm on September 21.

Registration for the marathon is now open via: https://www.echolive.ie/minimarathon/.

Once registered, and have chosen to run for the centre, participants can apply for a Rainbow Club pack at tinyurl.com/4cxvkb8t.

Tickets for Macnificent Mike

A number of tickets remain available for UK comedian Michael McIntyre’s Macnificent shows this week at Live at the Marquee.

Mr McIntyre, known for his award winning Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, which first aired on BBC One in 2009, will be performing three live gigs at the Ballintemple venue tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday.

A number of tickets are available for all gigs, from €73.25, on www.ticketmaster.ie.

Community connections

Mahon Tidy Towns want members of the public to join them on July 29 for their Mahon Community Connections networking series.

The event, which will see members of the community come together for a cup of tea and a chat every Tuesday and Thursday for the summer months, will take place from 11am to 12pm, at the grounds of Ringmahon House, weather permitting, or at the Family resource Centre.

People of all ages are welcome to join, with further information available by emailing:
mahontidytowns@gmail.com or calling:
089-2390923.