Campaigners want improved access to Tramore Valley Park

Dozens of people at a rally in Cork last Saturday afternoon heard calls for improved pedestrian and cycle access to Tramore Valley Park.

Locals say there is no pedestrian access to the 170-acre park from the Turner’s Cross and Ballyphehane side, meaning they are forced to walk a considerable distance via the South Douglas Rd and Half Moon Lane.

Saturday’s rally was organised by Sinn Féin councillor Fíona Kerins and Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

The rally was attended by a crowd of about 60 members of the local community, among them members of community groups including Ballyphehane Tidy Towns, Ballyphehane GAA club, Ballyphehane Action group, and Dolphin RFC.

The campaigners walked from Woodie’s on Kinsale Rd, the point from which locals say a pedestrian access could begin, to Tramore Valley Park.

Addressing the rally, Mr Ó Laoghaire said it should be possible to walk the 300m distance from Kinsale Rd to the park in five minutes.

“Unfortunately, though, residents are cut off by the link road and have to walk 32 minutes, and 2.5km, to the Half Moon Lane entrance, on a route which is sometimes narrow and has some unsafe crossings, which are not ideal for buggies or wheelchairs,” he said.

“We are campaigning for a footbridge across the link. We have raised this in the Dáil and have a motion going before Cork City Council this month.”

Mr Ó Laoghaire said he and Ms Kerins were calling on the council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to commit funding to a bridge.

“This is especially important given the many additional apartments proposed in the area — meaning that amenities such as Tramore Valley Park will become all the more important in the future,” he said. “We are campaigning to ensure the City Council and NTA deliver this, so we can have access for all.”