Maintaining biodiversity status of the Glen River park
There has been a lot of good engagement with the local community around the Glen River Park in recent months which has assisted in enhance the biodiversity value of the area. This has included tree planting and rewilding of areas by Cork CIty Council which is encouraging. Further enhancement has been carried out by the local Friends of the Glen group who have carried out considerable work to reduce litter and water pollution in the area. The current draft of the plan outlines details to "Support the improvement of Glen Valley Park as a high value multi functional GBI space providing an enhanced riverside amenity route connecting to residential, retail and employment zones in area and the delivering increased biodiversity, recreational and flood relief measures." It appears from Maps 4 and 5 that this entails the inclusion of an enhanced cycling and pedestrian route through the Glen River Park. There are a number of reasons that this is not suitable including:
- There are steep hills on all three entrances including the Ballyhooley Road, Sunview Terrace and Blackpool sides of the park. This will deter many people from using this route.
- The installation of accessible cycle routes which can be used throughout the year will require both the installation of enhanced pathways and street lighting. This will have an impact of the biodiversity of the area in a number of ways. Firstly street lighting has a negative effect on insect species as it interferes with their normal cycles as they are attracted to lighting. This will have a further impact on bat and bird species in the park. There are also a number of uncommon species which live in the area including the Kingfisher, Otters, Dippers and Egrets. Any construction activity has the potential to negatively impact these species. Duck species also cross the existing path every morning and evening to nest in the hedges along the football pitch. Construction would inhibit this from occuring also.
For these reasons it is proposed to include any such route along the North Ring Road as there is considerable space along this route for the inclusion of a two lane cycleway. There is also no steep incline on the ballyhooley road side of the route.