Implementation of BusConnects will address local traffic concerns, says Cork City Council

Something has to be done about traffic on Lower Kent Road, Ballyphehane, local councillors have said, as council management say that their concerns will be addressed by the long-awaited BusConnects programme.

The Green party’s Dan Boyle proposed that Lower Kent Road become restricted for the movement of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and that signage be put in place to reflect such a restriction.

Noel Murtagh, the council’s acting director of local area development and operations told Mr Boyle: “Any proposed ban of heavy vehicles cannot be considered as a solution for one street only but a city-wide approach and the impacts of same on businesses and the operation of the city would need careful consideration.

“Such a proposal could only be considered in the context of CMATS (the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy) and/or a HGV movement strategy.” 

Sinn Féin’s Fiona Kerrins had a motion on a similar topic: “That this Council engage with the residents of lower Kent Road, Ballyphehane who have witnessed increased levels of traffic using the road due to many factors in the area including changes to the junction at Curragh Road.

“The proposed developments at the former Vita Cortex and CMP sites will no doubt exacerbate the situation and a traffic management plan needs to be put in place. This must include signage and traffic calming measures,” she said.

Plans were approved at the end of December for 170 homes on the vacant Vita Cortex site, adjacent to Musgrave Park, while the former CMP (Cork Milk Producers) Dairies site on the Kinsale Road was sold to Cairn Homes in August, after it received full planning permission in 2022 for the development of over 606 homes.

Mr Murtagh told her said that traffic calming ramps have been in place on Lower Kent Road for a number of years, and two out of the three ramps were replaced in 2024 due to deterioration. Ramp ahead signs and a Children at Play sign were also in place, he added.

“During the construction phase of any development, where the use of any public road is required, the contractor shall submit a construction traffic management plan outlining any temporary traffic management plans required for the development.” 

Mr Murtagh added that the Department of Transport issued guidance on 16 October 2025 with regard to the implementation of 30 km/hr speed limits in urban areas, with a view to having the changes implemented by the 31st March 2027, and that the area could be looked at as part of this review.

However, he also told Ms Kerrins: “Kent Road is in an established residential suburb developed around the middle of the last century. While there are a number of sites being developed in the area, this is true for many parts of the city.

“The City Development Plan provides a land-use planning framework for this area and there is no real benefit in preparing an additional planning-led area plan for this area. In the longer term, the wider surrounding area has regeneration potential and the Cork City Development Plan makes reference to a potential future strategy for the area.” 

He added: “The particular matters raised by members in the motions in relation to HGVs and traffic management fall under the wider transport strategy CMATS for the Cork Metropolitan Area.” 

Mr Murtagh said that the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy contains an objective to increase uptake of active travel and sustainable modes of transport and reducing the number of private vehicles in the city in the long term, including through BusConnects.

“As part of BusConnects, Kinsale Road forms part of the Cork City south east sustainable transport corridors scheme where major improvements to the route and bus services will be rolled out to minimise reliance on the private car in this area.” 

The lodgement of planning applications with An Coimisiún Pleanála for the new bus and active travel infrastructure was originally expected to occur mid-2025, but is now set to take place this year.

Both motions were first discussed at the transport strategic policy committee meeting, where it was agreed that follow up enquiries would be made to establish the timeline for the CMATS review, and at Monday’s full council meeting.

Ms Kerins told The Echo after the meetings: “I have been calling for traffic calming for lower Kent Road and a plan for the area due to the large number of developments going on in the area."

There is an increased level of traffic in the area using it as a rat run, and HGV’s using the road.

“Recently a HGV damaged the green area. I have been looking for signage to warn HGV’s that this road is unsuitable for them but also because there are younger families on the road now as well so caution needs to be exercised. I have been contacted by the residents and parents calling for action to be taken on this issue.” 

Mr Boyle added: “Residents of Kent Road have rightly been worried about HGVs using their road, which is totally unsuitable for such traffic.

“City Council officials say that construction traffic will be discouraged from the area, but as local councillors we believe a total restriction should be put in place.”