Latest Cork Luas route will mean some Wilton residents will lose parts of gardens

The preferred route for the Cork Luas, which will be published this morning, confirms that a number of schools, sports clubs, and private residences will face compulsory purchase orders (CPOs).

Today’s publication contains a number of differences from the emerging preferred route (EPR), which was published last April, with the most significant changes in Bishopstown.

In the EPR, the €1bn-plus light railway would have run eastward from Curraheen Rd onto Bishopstown Rd, travelling by the front of Cork University Hospital (CUH), and turning left at the Wilton roundabout.

Under the preferred route, the light rail turns left off of Melbourn Rd, past Bishopstown Community School, Ballinaspig Lawn, Bishopstown GAA, Highfield Rugby Club, Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, and St Columba’s Convent.

It will turn down into CUH, between the acute mental health unit and the dental school and hospital, along the back of the eastern side of Wilton Ave, before emerging at the front of CUH and heading for the Wilton roundabout.

On Thursday morning, residents were hand-delivered copies of the preferred route, some of which have been seen by this newspaper.

A number of Wilton Ave residents expressed concern that parts of their gardens will face CPOs.

One Wilton Ave resident, Victor Daniels, said he felt the project would cause huge disruption in the neighbourhood, regardless of whether CPOs are issued.

“We have planes flying overhead, cars constantly doing U-turns on our road, and now we will have trains going through our gardens,” 

he said.

On the eastern side of the route, in Ballintemple, publican Con Dennehy said TII had confirmed to him that the preferred route will go through his pub, The Venue.

“It’s our worst fears come true,” 

Mr Dennehy told The Echo.

Mr Dennehy and his partner, Kate Tierney, have run the popular bar, located on the corner of Churchyard Lane and the Blackrock Rd, for more than 11 years.

“We could have the threat of a CPO hanging over us for the rest of our lives, and we might never see a Luas at the end of it,” Mr Dennehy added.

No firm commitment has been given on funding, or on a timeline for construction, but it is likely to be several years before ground is broken on the Cork Luas or the first tracks laid.

The preferred route of the Cork Luas will be published at 11am today by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Today’s publication will mark the beginning of an eight-week round of non-statutory consultations, after the completion of which TII will prepare a final route design for the application of a railway order.