Plans to block Kilmore Road
A human blockade is on the cards for Kilmore Road in Knocknaheeny in a bid to urge the city council to remove concrete bollards with claims that they look like something out of war torn country.
A residents’ meeting is to be held next month and removing the concrete bollards is one of the top items on the agenda. Several residents are said to be ready to block the road and traffic heading to Apple's European Headquarters which is based in the area.
This came to light at this week's Cork City Council meeting, with Sinn Féin Cllr Thomas Gould urging the council to remove the bollards and install plinths in their place, similar to work carried out in Mahon.
The bollards were originally placed on the northside road to stop caravans from parking in the area.
Cllr Gould said it was unacceptable that they were on the road.
“It’s not fair and it’s unjust. There’s a plinths on the footpath near St Michael’s GAA pitch in Mahon that are four to five inches high to stop people mounting the kerb.”
He said plinths like this could also put placed on the Kilmore Road instead of the concrete bollards.
“But in Knocknaheeny we’ve these bollards for 30 years that you would find in war torn areas protecting embassies.”
He added: “We’ve a blitz next week and the first thing those children will see on Kilmore Road is these bollards. They aren’t in any other parts of the city so why are they in Knocknaheeny?”
He said that when Apple phones City Hall asking why there’s a blockade, the officials can tell them why.
However, Fianna Fáil Cllr Tony Fitzgerald said Cllr Gould was painting Knocknaheeny is a bad light and said he was “bringing the area down”.
He questioned what part of Kilmore Road the blockade was planned for, adding that it could effect local traders, not just Apple.
“Yes the bollards are inappropriate and should be removed,” he said adding that he has spoken to City Hall officials about it and a solution could be made down the road about them but said they were there for a reason.
Head of the Environment Department in City Hall, Valerie O’Sullivan agreed that the bollards were put there at the time for a reason.
She admitted that they were an eyesore but added that officials are exploring the possibility of removing them and how funding could be raised if that was to happen.
If they were to be removed, she said, it should be done in such a way that the problem they were put there for in the first place is not repeated.