A concrete timeline
The bollards on John F Connolly Road on the northside of Cork city are to be removed over the next ten months.
The timeline for these works, and others, were outlined in response to a question to Cork City Council Chief Executive and were welcome by Sinn Féin.
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould said: “Finally, we will see the bollards removed from John F Connolly Road. That 1,000 tonnes of concrete and other materials have sat on footpaths, blocking the way for pedestrians, for so long is nothing short of a disgrace.”
Deputy Gould said the bollards have had huge impacts on the clubs, organisations and businesses along the routes and has contributed heavily to the stigmatisation of the area.
He added: “I am really glad that Cllr Kenneth Collins has now received a concrete timeline for the removal of these. It is long past overdue and we will be keeping the pressure on to make sure that this timeline is adhered to. I hope that next summer, we will finally see young people able to walk along John F Connolly Road to attend sporting events without having to dodge trucks and traffic and bollards.”
“I want to commend all of those who kept the pressure on council and government for this – the clubs and organisations, the small businesses, our own council team including Cllr Kenneth Collins, Cllr Michelle Gould and former councillor Mick Nugent.”
Cllr Collins said: “These works, alongside those other works listed, will be transformative for Churchfield, the Fair Field and surrounding areas.”
He added: “It is good news for those who use the Fair Field regularly, and live around it that when these lights will be installed before the evenings are dark next winter. The removal of bollards is long overdue. It has been an eyesore and a constant reminder of the years of neglect of the northside. This means that children attending St Vincent’s Hurling and Football Club and Castleview AFC, alongside the other sports clubs and organisations, will be able to walk to and from matches.”
He said the council timelines are very clear and must be stuck to. “We need to know that all funding will be made available for these vital works and that they will progress at pace. We cannot have any more delays in these works. People deserve to feel pride in their area.”