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CORK COUNTY COUNCILLORS have expressed “grave concerns” at the impact that recommendations to redraw the county’s boundary with Cork City Council could have on the future delivery of services in the county.
A meeting held by Cork County Council tonight is the latest development in a row about the boundary between the city and county.
Tensions have been brewing in recent weeks between the mayor of Cork County Council, councillor Declan Hurley, and the mayor of Cork City Council, councillor Tony Fitzgerald.
The dispute between both mayors has arisen following recommendations to redraw the city’s boundaries within the MacKinnon report.
The report – which was commissioned by the Department of Housing - proposes extending the current remit of the city council to include Ballincollig, Carrigrohane, Blarney, Glanmire, Carrigtwohill and Cork Airport, which would see the population of the city almost double to 225,000 people.
Tonight’s meeting
At tonight’s meeting, elected members of the county council highlighted concerns from residents in communities across the county council area about the recommendations.
Hurley said:
“Cork County Council is unanimous… that the lack of public consultation and engagement with communities up until this point has been deplorable.
It has resulted in a situation whereby the process that is being proposed by government to expand the city boundary has come as a major surprise to communities.
Cork County Council had made a set of proposals to Cork City Council on a section of land it would cede, but councillors on the city council voted unanimously to reject these.
Hurley expressed his disappointment with the rejection of the council’s recent offer, claiming that the city council “appear to be unwilling to engage in any discussions on the county’s proposals”.
Cork County Council unanimously agreed at tonight’s meeting to submit a formal boundary alteration proposal to Cork City Council for consideration.
“This approach provides for public consultation whereby all stakeholders – including community groups from across Cork – can have their say,” Hurley said.
City Council’s open letter
In contrast to Hurley’s stance, Cork City Council mayor Tony Fitzgerald recently wrote an open letter to the citizens of Cork, which claimed that county residents would experience a better quality of life within a city boundary.
In the letter to some 100,000 people who live in the county council area, Fitzgerald looked to reassure those affected by the proposals that being part of the city would offer Cork the best opportunity to grow.
Fitzgerald said that he was “deeply disappointed by recent attempts to whip up unnecessary fear in communities”.
“In Cork City, a growing economy has not led to a growing population as it was strangled by an outdated city boundary that had not been extended since 1965,” Fitzgerald said.
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Money grab by the City….. nothing more ..nothing less….. how could Carrigtowhill be part of the City. It is absurd…
@Kevin Moynihan: Because over 50% of people living in Carrigtohill work in the city? Because the major employers in the area are there because of the presence of UCC and CIT?
In fact, the money grab has been the other way around for decades. Money raised in what is effectively the suburbs of the city and which should have been spent in them has been siphoned out. It’s why the city is surrounded by country lanes with massive housing estates off them and corresponding traffic congestion.
@Chris Mansfield: that view would mean that Cobh, Midleton, Carrigaline would also be in the City. Where do you stop? A sensible extension is desirable but not what is proposed.
As regards large housing estates and narrow roads, unfortunately many planners have messed that up, you don’t have to go far North of the River Lee to see that!
@Chris Mansfield: then Dublin should annex Meath…… majority of its inhabitants work in Dublin anyhow…. by your logic that makes sense.
@Vincent: I don’t think Dublin should annex the whole of Meath, but there probably is a case for a Greater Dublin Authority and for areas like Dunshaughlin and Ashbourne to be brought into it.
County council have been reckless with planning, which is leading to crazy traffic blackspots and urban sprawl. The city boundaries havent changed in decades, they need to be extended in order to let the city take shape, particularly as it regenerates the docklands.
For gods sake..what about the homeless its almost winter..who cares about the boundry..?? Do what u were elected to do..look after the people. for once earn ur wages
@Marianne: This is an article on the boundary extension and County Councillors are earning their wage fighting this for the people of Cork County. Before the hoards descend…homeless crisis is also an important issue!
@Marianne: this is why there is homeless crisis in cork, have anyone driven along city/county boundary? One side city services the other side country, cork coco is backward when it comes to planning. They will grant one off housing monstrosities in the middle of no where but when it comes to building family homes near the city oh hell no.
@Marianne: In actual fact this could help the homeless if the rates raised in what is effectively Cork City were spent on services in the city.
Gotta feel for the people of Ballincollig, Carrigrohane, Blarney, Glanmire, Carrigtwohill and Cork Airport. Cork city councillors are the biggest bunch of wasters I’ve ever had to deal with.
@Guybrush Threepwood: are the county councillors much better?
Is this all about rates?. Because if its not I can’t see any other reason for such drama apart from lads just trying to seem important.
@ChuckE: I reckon it is about increased rates, the city boundary is fairly small to be fair but some of the areas they’re talking about could nearly be considered rural. What’s their plan for after the change? Will these places get more buses , easier access to the city centre? I’d like to know what’s in it for the people who will now become city folk?
@Hardly Normal: joined up planning for infrastructure and transport are the main things, but also for services, etc. You should benefot from it actually.
It kinda makes sense bar the Carrigtwohill bit which seems utterly bonkers. Finish it at Little island or Glounthane at the furthest.
@mcgoo: While I can see the sense in Carrigtwohill coming in, I’ll grant that it seems strange to bring Carrigtwohill in when leaving Passage, which is effectively connected to Rochestown, and where I wouldn’t anticipate as much opposition, out.
The Smiddy Report should have been implemented when it was passed by a vote. There was no need for another yet.
@Shipwreck: The problem with the Smiddy report is that the people on the panel (with the exception of Theresa Reidy and John Curran) were in no way experts in the field. It was a fairly typical government fudge, which ended up getting found out. All of which meant we just had to pay for another report from actual experts.
Or in The Journal terms, it was commissioned by Alan Kelly.
A simple proposal: Have a plebiscite/ referendum of the proposed locations and let democracy take its course for the citizens who live in , what are effectively, satellite towns of Cork city.
Ridiculous why there is a city and county council in a place as small and as sparsely populated as cork.
Ireland only needs provincial councils and a couple in Dublin.
@S kane: well there’s over 500k people in cork city and county. Small but hardly so for Ireland.
@6ljJQRRU: Cork city has just 125,000, crazy that Cork has 2 councils, just a waste of money.
@S kane: I guess you are from Dublin ?
Dublin people in general do not understand the size of Cork county.
They will ask you to go to Castletown Bere and not understand it will take the same time to get there as it takes to get from Dublin to Cork.
As for the rezoning – well it’s about time – but public consultation should be in the mix
@eastsmer:
I’m from cork, born and bred , to give you some perspective on size where I currently live local council area is 66% size of whole of ireland .
Cork is not a big place, big in Irish terms yes .
No reason one council and a regional office .
2 hrs is nothing , take longer to cross a major world city
“The lack of public consultation” – yes the lack of any consultation with any ‘Government’ decision is happening with everything – yes I know we ‘elected’ them but we elected them to work for us not to drive on regardless.
Same situation with the ID cards being brought in for passports and driving licences – no consultation, just carry on.
have your say