Concerns raised by residents over development plans for Cork city suburb   

Residents in the Blackpool area have raised concerns regarding the proposed development at Gerald Griffin St.

The plans, recently posted by Cork City Council, comprise of the construction of 67 apartments and a community facility constructed in a new apartment block on a site in the ownership of Cork City Council.

The proposed development varies in height from three to six storeys on a site approximately 0.4 of a hectare which will be accessed by vehicles from Gerald Griffin St to the east and Burke’s Avenue to the north.

The proposed development comprises 31 one-bed apartments, 30 two-bed apartments, and six three-bed apartments.

The existing wall along the full length of Burke’s Avenue and along the lower end of Gerald Griffin Avenue will be demolished, if the plans are approved.

Public meeting

Approximately 70 people attended a public meeting at Blackpool Community Centre last Thursday, August 13, to discuss the plans.

All councillors from the North West and North East Wards were invited to attend the meeting, as Blackpool straddles both areas, as well as TDs from the Cork North Central constituency.

TDs Colm Burke and Thomas Gould, of Fine Gael and Sinn Féin respectively, attended the meeting, as well as councillors Michelle Gould and Kenneth Collins of Sinn Féin, Brian McCarthy of People Before Profit-Solidarity, and Labour’s John Maher.

A spokesperson for the group, named Blackpool Gerald Griffin Street vs Overdevelopment, said: “Residents emphasised that the community is not opposed to housing.

“Their objection concerns the scale, height, density, and suitability of this particular proposal in its current design.”

The principal concerns raised included existing traffic congestion and pedestrian-safety risks around nearby schools, homes, sporting facilities, and community venues; narrow roads and footpaths; parking and emergency access; construction traffic; and the additional pressure the development would place on local infrastructure.

Residents also raised concerns about the potential impact on Blackpool’s historic character and questioned why an Architectural Heritage Impact Assessment had not been carried out, as both Gerald Griffin St and Gerald Griffin Avenue are located in an Architectural Conservation Area.

Show of hands

On the night, there was a show of hands to mandate the residents’ group to continue to engage on behalf of the community with local elected councillors during the Part 8 Planning process.

The spokesperson said: “This community understands the urgent need for housing, but urgency cannot be allowed to override safety and responsible planning.

“We are asking for a development that is appropriate in scale, sustainability, and respectful of the people who already live, work, and go to schools here.”

The group thanked everyone who attended and called on elected representatives to listen carefully to the community’s concerns and to ensure that a full, transparent assessment of the proposed site is carried out, taking into account the legitimate concerns of the residents.