Cork City Council allocate €70,000 to look at options for western access to Tramore Valley Park

Cork City Council has allocated €70,000 for a feasibility study to look at options for a western access to Tramore Valley Park.

The new bridge on the south side of the park to Grange & Frankfield has proved to be very popular and gives residents there direct access via a pleasant woodland walk. The question now is if there could be something similar for the west side of the park.

In response to a question from Social Democrats councillor Padraig Rice, the council said... “There are three pedestrian access routes to Tramore Valley Park, the last access point seeing the opening of the link from Grange/Frankfield. Earlier this year the city council secured an initial grant allocation of €70,000 to examine the feasibility of establishing a new improved east-west link into Tramore Valley Park. This funding will also help progress the preparation of a scheme brief which could be used for the procurement of a design team in the coming year (subject to continued funding) with a view to the developing preliminary proposals for such a new connection. The overall concept is at an early stage and related progress will be advised to Members in the period ahead.”

At first glance, a new western entrance with say a new bridge over the South Link Road would seem to be a no-brainer but is it?

The new bridge on the south side of the park over the South Ring Road shortened a 3.4km detour to a pleasant 1km walk for residents in Frankfield. Would a western bridge show similar benefits?

Some examples... 1) Starting at Turners Cross - It's just an 800m walk to get into the north western part of the park via Half Moon Lane. Going via a bridge by say the Black Ash is 1.5kms. No advantage.

2) Starting at the Pearse Rd / Tory Top Rd / Kinsale Rd junction - It's 1.2kms via the Half-Moon Lane and 1km via a Black Ash Bridge. No real advantage.

3) Starting at the Tramore Rd / Kinsale Rd junction - 1.6kms via Half-Moon lane and 0.6km via a Black Ash Bridge. A 1km advantage.

Half Moon Lane entrance

I wonder if some people are unaware of the Half Moon Lane entrance or might think it's further than it actually is?

So on first examination, the cost to benefit analysis doesn't seem to justify a new bridge.

Plans for the park?... The question then is if Cork City Council have other plans for the park?

Do the council have plans to use the park as a venue for concerts / entertainment / sports? Perhaps there is a commercial element to the councils plans which would change the cost to benefit equation?

After all, the amount of parking in the park itself is limited and the council have the Black Ash car park at the other side of the South Link Road which can't be used at present.

There are also proposals for some 600 residential dwellings on the old CMP site which would be a factor as well.

If a western access point / bridge is eventually approved, it will probably be the end of the decade before we're likely to see it.