Possible new car park for Mitchelstown
A car park with space for 40 public spaces may be installed on James’ Street in Mitchelstown, beside the Fire Station.
Senior Executive Engineer with Firmly Municipal District, Brendan O’Gorman told councillors that a 50 space car park – with 10 spaces dedicated to fire personnel – may be introduced to help alleviate the problem of parking in the town.
At the October meeting of the council, Mr O’Gorman said that, having explored the issue with the fire services, the road section of Cork County Council have agreed to explore the redevelopment of the existing green area. The intension would be to have overhead barriers installed to prevent long term stay in the car park.
There are funds, he said, ringfenced for it, and the issue would go through a Part 8 procedure before going back to the council.
Highlighting the reason for the proposed development, Mr O’Gorman said: “The problem with Mitchesltown is on Thursday’s, when it is market day. There are huge parking problems everywhere on Thursday.” He added that the car park would be quite central to the town centre, and offers easy pedestrian access to the square.
“It will have an impact of course on people living nearby, that would obviously be taken on board. We have to look at the overall picture that there is no other site available to us.”
While the councillors greeted the proposal generally with support, Cllr June Murphy expressed her concerns about it, saying that what Mr O’Gorman has said didn’t ‘mirror the feedback I’ve been getting from people on the idea of a car park going in behind the fire station’.
“It doesn’t correspond with what I’m hearing on the ground by people who are working and living in the area. For most of the week, bar Thursday, the parking in the square seems to be sufficient enough.”
Cllr Murphy queried would a car park here attract anti-social behaviour. She added: I just have a lot of concerns and I wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about it anyway.”
While supporting the idea of a new car park in Mitchesltown, Cllr Kay Dawson said that Upper Cork Street may benefit more, and that that particular area has ‘died in the last couple of years’. A car park in that area would increase footfall, she stated.
Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe said he hoped that the public will give their opinions on the proposal, and that he fully supported the issue. Cllr Ian Doyle said it was ‘common sense’ to turn that area into a car park.
Cllr Frank O’Flynn welcomed the report from Mr O’Gorman, and acknowledged the problem with parking in the town. Cllr Noel McCarthy too welcomed the Part 8, and supported consultation with the public and local residents on the proposed car park.
Published:
Thursday 23rd October 5:51pm
