Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to make a few comments in relation to the above at the Lee Rd Cork.
The site is not a small infill site as described in the application. It is one of the most important areas of hinterland adjacent to Cork City.
It is the start of the hinterland on the city side of the Lee Rd.
The boundary to the east is the old Our Lady’s psychiatric Hospital.
The boundary to the south, west and north are all part of the hinterland/greenbelt.
To the South the site runs down to the Lee Rd at a point where the river is very close to the road. The site is visible from the Lee Fields park and the Carrigrohane Rd.
To the west the hinterland stretches out for miles along the Lee Rd.
The hinterland to the west contains a small rural development with low density housing. It largely consists of houses built in the 1950’s &1960’s.
No new residential development has been allowed by Cork County Council for at least 40 to 50 years.
The Lee Clinic built about 2008 was built on a very small site which for some reason was omitted from the greenbelt/hinterland status in the Cork County development plan about 2004.
The North bank of the River Lee with the hills behind it is one of the most beautiful and important areas of the hinterland.
Visitors to Cork from the west often comment on how beautiful this entrance to the City is.
To the north the site is bordered by hinterland for an extensive distance almost up to the Clogheen & Kerry Pike area.
In truth this is a very important area of hinterland/greenbelt.
The transport infrastructure is poor. There are no cycle lanes connecting this site to the City. There are no cycle lanes on the Lee Rd, Wellington bridge, Sunday’s Well Rd and Shanakiel Rd.
The bus service is extremely poor. One bus a day runs from Cork to Macroom and back via the Lee Rd. The service is so irregular that most people have stopped using it.
This site is not connected to the City sewerage network. And I understand Irish Water have no plans to connect it.
The Lee Rd itself has been neglected for many years despite increasing traffic demands. It needs considerable remedial work.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Madden