Cork funeral business appeals refusal for new service at former Bishopstown bank

Fordes Funeral Homes have appealed Cork City Council’s refusal of their planning application to open a new service in Bishopstown to An Comisiún Pleanála.

Fordes, who operate three funeral homes in Cork city, at South Gate Bridge, Carrigaline, and Turner’s Cross, had applied for permission for the development of a site of at the former Permanent TSB premises at 1 Curraheen Rd in Bishopstown, but this was refused last month.

They had hoped to repurpose the former bank by changing its use, with the plans including the partial demolition of internal walls and partitions and a single storey building extension, as well as the construction of a new extension and new internal walls and partitions to facilitate two reposing areas, toilets, entrance and exit lobby, office, family room, and staff rooms.

Several objections

There were several objections by residents and local councillor Albert Deasy who said that the location was already the site of heavy traffic and that there would be insufficient parking.

Cork City Council explained the reasons for their refusal of permission: “The site is located in close proximity to the Curraheen Rd/Bishopstown Rd/Woodbrook Rd junction, which is a major junction serving two main arteries in and out of the city from the N40.

“Given the proximity of major institutions in the area such as Munster Technological University and Cork University Hospital, the junction experiences congestion on a daily basis, particularly at peak times.

“The proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard. Furthermore, the proposed development would increase the incidence of parking on a major traffic route and close to a major traffic junction and would endanger public safety by reason of obstruction of road users.”