Call for provision of walking and cycling access to 'fantastic' Cork city park

A Cork TD has called on the Government and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to provide a pedestrian cycle connection bridge from Kinsale Rd to Tramore Valley Park.

Regarding the lack of pedestrian and cycle access to Tramore Valley Park, Cork South Central Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said he hopes the issue can progress towards a resolution over the coming year.

He also feels that people in nearby areas including Ballyphehane, Togher, and Turners Cross should be able to access Tramore Valley Park by foot or by bike and without the need for a car.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said: “Tramore Valley Park is a fantastic new park that has been developed in the past couple of years. It was officially opened in 2019 and was practically opened a bit before.

“It is a repurposed civic amenity on what was effectively a dump, and it has been repurposed into an excellent park with many tracks and routes.

“It is causing huge frustration that this fantastic park and terrific amenity has been provided by Cork City Council and the people in these neighbourhoods are able to look across the road at it, but are unable to reach it other than in their cars.

“On top of that, the car park is very often full because it is so popular.”

Badly Needed

Mr Ó Laoghaire added: “This is something that has to be delivered.

“It is very badly needed. I do not think it would break the bank, but it would open up this park.

“A lot of the focus on these kinds of projects and these NTA projects is about ensuring people are able to walk and cycle, to be able to go to work, but also to access amenities. That sums it up.”

In response to a query from Mr Ó Laoghaire, transport minister Darragh O’Brien confirmed that the NTA and Cork City Council were actively engaged on the matter of a pedestrian cycle connection bridge from Kinsale Rd to Tramore Valley Park.

He added that the council has submitted a proposal to the NTA to help address the issue.

Mr O’Brien said: “The proposed Kinsale Rd to Tramore Valley Park pedestrian-cycle connection would provide that improved pedestrian and cycle infrastructure on the Kinsale Rd and Mick Barry Rd, as well as a pedestrian and cycle bridge into Tramore Valley Park.”