Council works to improve Mayfield's Tarry Path set to begin shortly

Cork City Council has announced a €30,000 investment in the Tarry Path area of Mayfield, also known as the black path, with works set to begin shortly.

The ward councillors were updated at a local area committee meeting for the north east ward, and at a community safety forum this week that bollards were to be installed to deter unauthorised access and hopefully prevent antisocial behaviour.

Earlier this year, the council agreed to assess what could be done with the area, after the issue was raised by councillors.

Fine Gael’s Joe Kavanagh said at the time that there had been “ongoing issues of fly tipping and a wide variety of antisocial behaviour”.

The council’s Noel Murtagh, acting director of local area development and operations, said that the project would “require significant resources, which have not been allocated in the current budget”.

The parks and recreation department carried out a thorough clean-up of the path, and placed a concrete block on the Glenamoy end, and said they would look into costing the installation of three bollards on the western Mount Brosna End to deter unauthorised access for vehicles, two fixed and one removable.

Labour’s John Maher told The Echo: “This is a positive step in solving the anti-social issues that happen around the Black path and installation of bollards will commence in coming weeks.

“These problems are going on for over 30 years plus and this is the first step in creating a better space. The residents of Mayfield who use the path to go to the bus, school, doctors, library, shops deserve better.

“A full clean up and cutting of grass will also happen and I believe the council executive are committed to getting a proper plan for this area of Mayfield.

“After years of campaigning, it’s good to see progress that will hopefully allow residents to live in peace and safety.

“This is only the beginning, but it is a very welcome step in the right direction. I will continue working to ensure that all residents can live in peace and safety, and that Cork City Council manages and maintains this space to the standard the community deserves.”

Mr Kavanagh told The Echo: “We’ve just received bollards to put in to stop cars going up and down, and they’ll be erected in the coming days.

“The housing and parks department are putting a plan together for the area, so there will be further work going in there. The plans are not drawn up yet, but parks and housing are putting their heads together.”

He added: “The area has been an issue the past 20 years or longer, it’s always been a bone of contention up there.

“The isolation factor is a huge issue there, it’s the reason why there’s a lot of illegal dumping and fly tipping. The plan is to get rid of the isolation factor and put something useful in there, whether it’s infill housing or public open space, well-lit and accessible.”