Litir Chumhdaigh
I am a 24 year old student who is passionate about Cork. I believe the next few years are vital in shaping the city we want Cork to be. We must provide a city that works for all of the people of Cork, and a city that's at the forefront of climate action. We are facing several crisis, whether it is the climate crisis, the housing crisis, access to education, or healthy communities. I believe we must nurture communities, and provide community spaces for all. We must rapidly accelerate uptake of sustainable public transport and active transport, provide community spaces, encourage public participation in decision making, and provide social housing for the people of Cork.
In section 3.37, there is a focus on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). There has been several failures of this in the past, namely developers being granted permission for PBSA and then applying for a change of use. We must recognise that student housing is housing, and should be help to the same standard as any other housing. We must ensure access to Green Spaces for students, who are often packed into small apartments with many other students. This housing should also be publically owned. Often the target market for this specific accomadation is first year students or international students, who are often charged extortionate prices by private companies and the education institutions. We must move towards social student housing, that is adequately regulated to prevent such high rents. These rents are usually inline with other private accomadation, however because students are often not treated as equals to other types of tenants, the accomadation is usually at a lower standard.
An emphasis to get students out of private houses that could other wise be rented to professionals and familys, demonises students, and increases the frictions between local communities and students. We should be working to intergrate students into the local communties, as they are part of the community. Segrating them in designated student housing will damage community relations. It is a lack of general affordable and social housing which is the real issue.
The City should also be providing support for student cooperative owned housing.
More social and affordable housing, whether it be for students or people in general.
We have a housing crisis which is tearing our communities apart. It is also an issue of access to education. So many people are locked out of education due to the cost of housing.
In relation to Objective 4.4 (Active Travel), supporting the proposed Lee to Sea Greenway (see table 4.3) and hope for a timely delivery (4.30), particularly for its missing City Centre and western sections. The L2S would directly serve UCC’s Main and Western Campuses and connect it to numerous trip attractors and key residential areas across the city. Together with a spur along the existing Currahene Greenway it would follow the proposed “Innovation Corridor” (see above) with a highest quality active travel route.
Traffic light timing is currently favourable towards private cars. The wait times as a pedestrian or as a cyclists can be offputing to commuters. Given the variability of weather in Ireland, reducing the commute time for pedestrians and cyclists would do a lot to encourage uptake, as there is a lower likelihood of getting caught in the rain.
Traffic calming measures are also needed to improve road safety, this will also encourage a modal shift towards active travel. The banning of certain vehicles from the city centre, such as HGVs and SUVs, which are inherintly more dangerous to other road users, would be a big step towards improving road safety, and encouraging the uptake of cycling.
The timeframes layed out in Table 4.2, are unabitious, and fail to appreciate the needed for a rapid modal shift. Public and active transport projects should be prioritised and accelerated.
More emphasis on active travel. Accelerate timelines for sustainable travel projects. Prioritise our roads for public transport and cycling.
It will lead to a healthier, safer Cork, and contribute to climate action.
Climate action should be given a priority here. While climate adaption and climate resilients is important, we need to double down our efforts on climate action. We can save ourselves a lot of pain if we act now. Often climate adaption methods, e.g flood defences, require a large amount of resources, and are carbon intensive. We risk failing into a feedback look of investing in climate adaption infastructure, which further contributes to climate change, instead of simply acting now to limit the effects of climate change.
5.21 talks about a just transition. I think as a city we need to go further than endorsing a just transition, but to also bring the idea of Climate Justice to the fore. While engaging those in our own communities who may be disporportionately effected by climate change, it is also important to acknowledge that we are part of a global community. Communities around the world who contribute much less to the climate crisis, but will be disportionately effected by it, such as coastal communites and island communities, deserve our compassion and support. Cork City should double down on our climate action to support these communites.
Our climate action must not ignore growth as an issue. Our use of space, and our expansion of the city contributes to carbon emmissions and waste. 5.26 outlines Waste Management and Adaptable Buildings. I believe more emphasis must be put on our use of space, fully utilising existing space, combating dereliction and land hoarding. Where possible, existing buildings should be renovated. The most sustainable building is the one that already exists.
Traffic calming measures. Accelerate timelines for sustainable transport projects.
If we don't act now, these issues will only get worse, and our communities are going to suffer. If our communities are not invested in, the climate crisis will bring about instability.