Plans for a Village Renewal Scheme along the R577 in Ballydesmond and Village Improvement Works along the R619 in Dromahane have been formally approved by Cork County Council, North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea has confirmed.
Plans for both schemes were subject to a public consultation process, which commenced in April 2019. A number of submissions/observations from the public were submitted during this time and each were reviewed by Cork County Council.
In Ballydesmond, the Village Renewal Scheme will involve a range of public realm works to improve pedestrian connectivity for vulnerable users within the urban environs in Ballydesmond and to enhance the urban centre for leisure activities.
The development in Ballydesmond will include: public realm works, new pedestrian footbridge, replacement footpaths, new footpaths/buildouts, uncontrolled pedestrian crossings and public lighting upgrades.
In Dromahane, the Village Improvement Scheme will also involve a range of public realm works to improve pedestrian connectivity for vulnerable users within the urban environs in Dromahane and to enhance the urban centre for leisure activities.
The development in Dromahane will include: public realm works including park upgrades and raised traffic table (Russell Place), replacement of existing footpaths, provision of new footpaths, build outs, provision of controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, public lighting upgrade works and related accommodation works.
In both Ballydesmond and Dromahane, the objective of the schemes is to increase the safety of the vulnerable users within the speed limits of the villages, which will be accomplished by a mixture of traffic calming within the centre of the villages and the provision of controlled and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.
Furthermore, it is the objective to control vehicular speeds on approaches to the main street in both villages with a combination of wider footpaths and concrete build outs combined with speed ramps/raised table.
Cllr. O’Shea commented: “I warmly welcome the formal approval of both the Village Improvement Works in Drommahane and the Village Renewal Scheme in Ballydesmond. The primary objective of these schemes is safety and that is always an issue most paramount for communities.
“In April I encouraged members of the public in both communities to review the proposed plans and to submit their own observations, which a number of members of the public did do, and their views have been helpful in bringing about the final plans which have now been approved. I look forward to work commencing on these schemes and to seeing the benefits of these schemes in both Ballydesmond and Drommahane.”
