Cork council's 'no' to new roundabout at busy hotel junction 

Cork County Council’s road design engineers have ruled out creating a roundabout at a busy junction close to one of the region’s most luxurious hotels, much to the dismay of local councillors.

The issue was raised at a meeting of Cobh Municipal District Council by its chairman, Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen.

He asked that the council construct a roundabout on the Fota road, the only road into Great Island and Cobh, close to the entrance of the Fota Island Hotel & Spa.

Mr Rasmussen said there had recently been a number of accidents there, and some of them “had been serious”.

“We have been lucky that so far none of those involved have been killed,” he said.

“We need to slow down traffic there, and a roundabout would help, in my opinion.

“I have spoken to the fire brigade about this, as every second week we are having an accident there.”

Independent councillor Ger Curley backed his colleague, saying that anything that could slow down traffic in that area would be welcome.

“It’s a no-brainer,” maintained Fianna Fáil councillor Dominic Finn, a Cobh-based secondary school teacher.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sheila O’Callaghan said if accidents occur along the narrow and winding Fota road there can be huge disruption and delays getting in and out of Cobh, as have been witnessed on occasions in recent years.

PAINTED ROUNDABOUT

She and Carrigtwohill-based Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry said that even a small painted roundabout would suffice.

Mr Barry said that around 80 heavy goods vehicles every day come onto the Fota road from a side road leading to Carrigtwohill and that junction is right across from the entrance to Fota Island Hotel & Spa.

Municipal district officials contacted the county council’s road design office, which said it has no plans to put a roundabout there.

Mr Rasmussen said he was not at all happy with that response and would not accept it.

Meanwhile, he got a somewhat more positive response when he called for further calming measures, including ramps, on top of Ballynoe Hill, Cobh, in an effort to slow down speeding motorists.

Council engineers said they would carry out an assessment there to see what might be done.

“Any proposed measures arising from this assessment will be subject to the availability of funding and will be prioritised accordingly,” they added.