All 31 Cork city councillors were invited to meet representatives of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to discuss BusConnects, the €600 million investment plan to improve public transport in Cork city being spearheaded by central government.
In an unusual move, elected representatives from all parties were invited to the attend the online meeting which was chaired by the Roads and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee of Cork city council.
Usually, these meetings are restricted only to members of the SPCs, but at a council meeting last week in which many aspects of BusConnects were criticised, it was decided that all members would be allowed to attend the online meeting.
The media was not invited as a City Council spokesperson explained SPCs are “only for the elected and nominated members. SPC meetings do not get streamed and are not open to the public.”
Representatives of the NTA showed councillors a slide show of the proposed new routes and councillors responded with problems they have identified.
Cllr Lorna Bogue (An Rabharta Glas/Green Left), who attended today’s meeting, told Tripe+Drisheen that the proposal for a controversial traffic bridge over the Mangala in Douglas was brought up at the meeting, and that the NTA are aware of a recent protest and information meeting in Douglas about the bridge.
Speaking at the city council meeting last week, Cllr Bogue called for much greater engagement from the NTA with the people of Cork, especially bus commuters, who she said were not being listened to.
Cllr Bogue was critical also of the NTA for its failure to set up an office in Cork so it “could address issues with stakeholders as and when they arise.”
However, at tonight’s meeting councillors were told the NTA does have an office in Horgan’s Quay which it shares with Irish Rail, and while it was not set up for BusConnects staff there are working on BusConnects. However, the office is not open to the public.
A bridge “no one wants”
At a meeting held last Friday evening in the Mangala, a nature reserve in Douglas that is home to bats, birds, moths and a range of native trees, local residents voiced their opposition to the proposed 20 meter traffic bridge that would bisect the green space by opening up a new bus route connecting Kinsale Road to Douglas.
The route is one of 12 sustainable transport corridors (STCs) designed to improve the efficiency of the public transport network in the city, and get more people to use the bus network.
However, councillors and residents at the Mangala meeting were in unison: the bridge proposal over the Mangala would be a disaster for the area they argued.
Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Independent) called the bridge “the absolute worst anti-environment proposal to hit a Cork suburb in decades”.
As he outlined, the proposed bridge would erase sections of Ballybrack Woods and the “widening of Carrigaline Road will take out a wide range of upper woodland paths.”
Cllr McCarthy’s points were echoed by Cllr Mary Rose Desmond (FF) and Cllr Des Cahill (FG) who both attended the gathering which took place in the long grass under the shadow of the proposed bridge.
The Mangala has been greatly improved in recent years thanks to efforts from Douglas Tidy Towns as well as a new path installed by Cork County Council which runs through the Mangala and is widely used by a cross section of the community.
Speaking at the meeting in the Mangala, Cllr Desmond reiterated the point she made a few days earlier at City Hall when she that it was as if the NTA were “throwing proposals at the wall to see what sticks.”
Residents told the meeting that the proposed bridge would destroy the character and atmosphere of the Mangala.
There was also a great deal of confusion from those in attendance about who is behind BusConnects and where people can access information about the plans and make submissions.
Niamh O’Flynn, a wildlife educator with the Heritage Council, takes students from St. Luke’s primary school on nature trips through the Mangala. She told Tripe+Drisheen that the Mangala needs to be protected as it’s the only natural green amenity in Douglas and it’s also an important area of biodiversity.
The Mangala is home to a range of flora and fauna species including bats, pigeons, robins, jays, moths, trout, trees such as willow, ash, alder, oak, Scots pine, hazel and yew trees and plants such as meadowsweet, doc leaves, Bird's-foot trefoil
“I just think we really need to protect this (area) because it’s for people’s mental health and to be in a green space is so important these days.”
You can listen to the short audio interview with Niamh O’Flynn of the Heritage Council above in which she outlines the different species living in the Mangala and why the area is an important nature reserve.
There will be six public forums to discuss the new bus corridors proposed by BusConnects. The meetings which will take place starting this week and will be held in Ballincollig, Tivoli and Douglas. Times and dates here.
NTA meets Cork city councillors as opposition to controversial aspects of BusConnects plan mounts