South Parish public realm upgrade approved by Cork councillors

The upgrade of Mary St, Douglas St, and White St has been approved by Cork city councillors, after over 1,000 residents submitted multiple rival petitions in relation to a proposed lack of parking.

The council project includes the upgrading and widening of footpaths, the introduction of controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, re-alignment of the junction between Friar St and Evergreen St — as well as Evergreen St and Abbey St — to provide traffic calming measures.

Under proposed plans, Abbey St would become a cul de sac, while Douglas St, Drinan St, Meade St, Cove St, and White St will all become one-way, and the scheme was to include the removal of 65 parking spaces.

A small city park on the eastern end of Douglas St will be introduced; as will cycle facilities; landscaping measures including trees, planter beds, and sustainable urban drainage systems; seating; bike parking; and enhanced lighting.

Some 186 submissions were received in relation to the proposed package of work, and the majority of the submissions were in favour of the scheme, the council said in a ‘Part 8’ report. There were many expressions of unconditional support for the project, and the main issues raised related to the loss of parking spaces and the impacts on the traffic flow in the area.

Three petitions were also submitted over the past few months, including one opposing the removal of parking with approximately 500 signatures.

The second was an online petition opposing the removal of parking with 340 signatures, though some of these were from Australia, France, the UK, the Czech Republic, the US, New Zealand, and Spain. A third petition, expressing full support for the published scheme, had 500 signatures.

The council said they “understand the need for parking within the area” and will redesign the layout such that an additional 28 car parking spaces will be provided.