Sick of Road Diversion!

[Firefly]

Jebus lads, not being able to get down to the ferry from the Links is really starting to bug me. Perhaps because underneath it all, I am a lazy person, who when forced to drive less than 2 miles out of her way feels totally hard done by :D

Am nearly on first name terms with the poor young fella who has to stand at the site entrance on the Tay Rd all day every day. I'm waving to him now as I pass. The lads on the ferry have all but forgotten me.:eek: Who would have thought a little traffic diversion could alter someone's life so drastically?;)

[Katy]

Hi Firefly......now you never know but ....you giving a wave each day to the young lad on Tay Rd...lol......may just be his highlight of the day........lol:)

I bet some drivers dont wave but make another kind of signal with two fingers.....:( .....Have the council no idea how long its going to take?......
Ask our Inspector Kieran to investigate.......lol......cheers Katy:)

[Kieran]

Hi Guys, firstly its a joint County Council/local Council and nearby links developer project. Its all to do with a temporary sewage treatment system until the powers that be at County Hall makes a definate decision of where they will locate a modern treatment plant to accommodate all the surounding harbour communities. We were told it would take 9 months to complete this temporary one at Ballinoe but the road disruption will only be part of that. The local Council will then statrt to build on its 37 acres on the far side of the road. I honestly dont see the road disruptions taking much longer, but remember firefly, its your sewage there that they are sorting out. lol -If its any consolation, I'm finding the disruption a pain in the backside too!

[Katy]

Cheers and thanks Kieran for the info....Katy:)

[Firefly]

Thanks Kieran. I have no problem with the works, after all its something that has to be done...and you can't have the works without the diversion...unfortunately:( We will just have to put up and shut up til its done I suppose:D

[Firefly]

Does anyone know if the road has been reopened yet? Looks as if it might be...not sure tho:confused:

[Kieran]

It seems to have got a new surface, so I'd imagine it wont long more. There seems to be plans for work on both sides of the road heading up the hill to newtown, so expect more hassle in future!

[Firefly]

Oh God. Can't take much more. Trying to focus on how it will all be worth it.

[Kieran]

I'm told its due to go on closer to newtown up to December. It will be ok for those living in the links who want a quick way in and out off the island, but a nightmare for those coming and going into town from the newtown end!

[Firefly]

Spotted a few signs up around Newtown about works commencing Aug 20th...

[fullastern]

I wish they'd do something about the sewerage on the waterfront. On Friday night at the opening of the Regatta festival I was standing at the railings opposite where the big crane is working on the old Admiral Bar. I was watching the sprats being chased by hungry mackerel when they were all engulfed in a cloud of effluent coming out from the quay wall directly below me. I've seen the same thing down by the Camber several times which was also highlighted in Inside Cobh recently. Hardly a nice sight (or smell) to greet tourists in this town!

[Kieran]

As a local Town Councillor, we were assured by our county's best and brightest from County Hall as far back as 1996 that all our sewage problems would be sorted by 2005. We we told that the entire harbour region would be free of sewage efluent. Cobh would have 3 new pumping stations to pump it over the hills to the Little Island treatment plant. One of those underwater pumping stations was meant to be situated at the camber behind Cove Cabs, where you saw the sprat 'Fullastern'. As usual, Cobh was forgotten again by our betters, and Corks best and brightest have other plans to feck up our harbour at Ringaskiddy!

[fullastern]

Thanks Kieran, I think I'll avoid eating mackerel for a while, or at least mackerel caught anywhere near that sh1t pipe!

[Ned Kelly]

There won't be much sleep to be had anywhere around the harbour when they start loading up those container ships, with the harbour shaped like a basin the noise will echo all over the shop!

[Firefly]

What?!:eek:

[Ned Kelly]

Well thats what I read, They are closing down the container depot near Glanmire and shifting the operation to Ringaskiddy!

[Kieran]

Yep! ourselves and Passage Town Council met last week to plan a untited strategy against the move. Even after they reclaim land at Ringaskiddy, they will still have less land than what they currently own at Tivoli. It doesnt make any sense, other than the big profit they will make from selling the property in Cork. It will feck up what ever chance there was of creating a tourist harbour. Bye bye Spike and Marina's in Cobh and Haulbowline etc etc! Where are the concerned TD's Now? This is a 100 times more detrimental than aer Lingus pulling out of Shannon!

[Kieran]

People really need to wake up about this one before its too late!

[Ned Kelly]

Get an online petition going Kieran, it worked for spike!

[Katy]

Hi Guys...I have to agree with Ned....let the towns folk know whats going on....sooner rather than later....or Cobh will end up a ghost town.....ahh!!:( Katy

[Kieran]

I was at a funeral yesterday and got talking to an old friend about the plans for the harbour. Hes reply was "What about the jobs it will create"? There will of course be no new jobs, just the transfer of labour down the harbour! 'Once its not outside my door' mentality rules!

[fullastern]

I tend to disagree about the impact moving the container terminal to Ringaskiddy would have. For most of my life I lived nearer to the Tivoli container terminal than Cobh or Passage West are to the proposed depot and I could see the cranes on the city quays and the funnels of the ships from my upstairs windows. The loudest noise was not from the docks but from Kent railway station.

The decision to move the port to Ringaskiddy was made over thirty years ago and the container terminal is one of the last things left in the city. It makes sense to me not to be bringing large container ships ten miles upstream to Tivoli where you could hardly swing a cat, let alone a big container ship.

The port is vital to Cork city and county's economic future. As Tom McSweeney regularly reminds us on his excellent RTE Radio 1 programme, we are an island nation. Ports are even more important to island nations. I'm not one of those who believe in "jobs at any cost" but in this case I support the move to Ringaskiddy and I would have liked to see the port buying the old NET site for port activity.

There has to be room for both industry and leisure in Cork Harbour and both have an equal right to exist. I support the marina for Cobh (as long as it's not an elitist one for the ultra rich to turn the town into another Crosshaven). I don't go along with NIMBYism either.

I'm sure I'll be lynched for this!!!

[Ned Kelly]

We won't see yer name on the petition then Fulla!:rolleyes:

[Ned Kelly]

But do remember that Tivoli is up river! The harbour will act like an amphitheatre with the sound reasonating all over the area!

[shell07]

everyones entitled to their opinion fullastern.....but yes you shall be lynched lol :rolleyes:

[Mike]

Kieran.........have you still got the rope from the last lynching?

[fullastern]

I think they used that rope for the tug of war last Sunday.

[Katy]

I think they used that rope for the tug of war last Sunday.

Hi Fullastern

I think we can all understand your comments, yet may I as a visitor to Cobh, with Roots in Ireland, point out just a few facts......

And my comments/views come from the fact I was trained and worked for over eight years in ; Town Development, Planning, and Tourism and Leisure, that to included with making decisions on, Environmental Issues, Health and Safety, and the rest......

I am all for protecting our Towns, etc for Future Generations....to many times officials, leading members of the community sit on the fence, while issues are talked about....I get angry when they do....
We can have some areas when Light Industry and Leisure can work together this proposal is not one of them.
First and formost you the people of Cobh, and Cork officials must at all costs get the balance right first time.....otherwise you will pass on a nightmare legacy....when you and I and the Officials are long gone.......

With the utmost respect all I ask is that you look at the bigger picture ...Tourism is a Multi-Million Pound Economy, that we must all work to......Lets all start now...by making the community of Cobh aware of whats being planned.........Regards Katy

[fullastern]

That's fair enough Katy, I'm not totally hung up on the idea, just felt I needed to make the point that balance is required. I can certainly see where town planning has gone wrong, there's plenty of evidence of it around Cork city and county. I wouldn't hesitate in opposing the incinerator for instance but I do think the commercial side of the harbour is important nevertheless.

[Katy]

Morning Fullastern, ...no problem...and I can understand your views on the issue......cheers Katy......

Not sure if I am awake yet but suns out again over Tyneside.....oohh!! whats it like in Cobh?:)

[fullastern]

Cheers Katy, sun shining here in Cobh this morning. The Pont-Aven (ferry from France) just passed my window, hundreds out on deck enjoying the view of Cobh. The last few days have been good, the best weather we've had since June, today is a lovely morning. Enjoy the sun, don't forget the sun barrier cream Katy!:)

[Katy]

Lol....Sun barrier....ahh!! Katy just gets freckles....lol......ahh!! skin fair like a true irish rose....thanks to my late Nan......:)
Last time we came over was in June and apart from when we got soaked to the skin in Cork, the weather was great.....we have now made a pact to avoid Cork City....lol....every time we go, it rains cats and dogs:eek: cheers Katy....on second cupa....lol:)

[Kieran]

Just thinking there Fullastern, Cobh Tourism could do worse than to hire yourself as it spokesperson. That was a nice welcome to Cobh introduction you gave us there. You poem on Cobh isnt all that bad either, I bet the Bishop and the friends of St Colmans liked it too!

[Katy]

:D Katy...cough!!, cough!!.....

If Fullastern get a job with the Tourist Office via a good word from the Cathedral.....cough!!....can I apply as assistant lol......I cant do poetry, but I can promote Cobh......aaahhh!!;) .Katy in need of a job....:o aaahhh!! whats that saying again Ned.....'Gis a job'.....

[Kieran]

Yes Katy, Fullastern can write the poetry, and you can resite it to visitors on Michael Martins Titanic Tours. I can see the buses flocking to Cobh already! -lol

[Ned Kelly]

Katy....... The councillor needs an assistant! All the brown envelopes need to be counted!

[Katy]

LOL....Ned, what are you like.....lol.....I thought K said they were blue envelopes.....:eek: cheers Katy:)

[Ned Kelly]

Blue or brown he accepts the lot!

[Kieran]

So what if I'm a stamp collector!