Cork’s city councillors have voted overwhelmingly to retain a yet-to-be-designed light rail bridge over the River Lee as a key ambition of the city development plan (CDP) — despite warnings that a fixed rail bridge could impact waterborne transport.
Councillors voted 28 to one, with one abstention, on Monday night, to approve the variation of the development plan that will guide the delivery of the vast new public realm, roads, parks, and cultural spaces required for the docklands — Ireland’s largest urban regeneration site.
The need for bridges for the area has been part of city planning policy since 2008 but they emerged as a major issue of concern when the variation was published for public consultation in April, attracting some 662 submissions.
Many boat clubs and rowers expressed concerns about the proposed light rail bridge — from Horgan’s Quay, near Kent Station, to Kennedy Quay on the south docks — suggesting that it could prevent upstream use of the river.
The draft ‘Luas’ light rail route, including the bridge, published by the National Transport Authority earlier this year, is the subject of a separate public consultation process.
Captain Michael McCarthy, a master mariner and a former deputy harbour master of the Port of Cork, was among those to raise concerns.
He said a fixed Luas bridge here would “sterilise” Horgan’s Quay, Penrose Quay, North and South Custom House Quay, including the pontoons, Albert Quay, and South Jetties, and the swinging basin, preventing access by foreign naval vessels, cruise vessels, tall ships, ferries, water taxis, visiting yachts, and power boats.
Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill’s suggestion that the variation proceed without mention of the bridges — to give the city time to prepare a river use study and consider alternatives — was voted down.
Green councillor Dan Boyle said to proceed with that suggestion would be a complete reversal of decades of policy and would “pander to unjustified fears”.
Fianna Fáil councillor Terry Shannon and Independent Ireland councillor Noel O’Flynn said the council has been pursuing the docklands project for 25 years and needs to get on with.
Mr Shannon said: “The design of the bridges needs to be such that it will allow navigation.”
Mr O’Flynn said: “We stand at a moment of renewal. The Government has pledged over €341m to Cork docklands. The funding is real, the timeline is clear, the opportunity is now.”
Councillors were also told that the proposed variation does not propose any new bridges across the river nor does it stipulate or determine any particular design or opening option for any of the bridges.
Cork City Council assistant chief executive Brian Geaney also assured that the council would work with Horgan’s Quay-based Cork City Missing Persons to source a new premises.
“That will happen, with engagement already lined up on Wednesday week,” he said.
Niall Ó Donnabháin, the city’s director of services for planning and integrated development, said the council wants to maintain the river at the heart of the city, and the variation will help put it at the heart of planning policy.
He also said there will be a full and detailed planning process for each of the proposed bridges at a later stage.
