Ballinspittle improvement plans will see parking spaces cut from 42 to 10

CAR parking spaces in Ballinspittle village will be cut from 42 to 10, as part of a road resurfacing programme.

At a recent meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District held in Kinsale, councillors were told that people living and working in Ballinspittle have until September 8th to make submissions on the Council-backed project.

The Council wants to resurface the roads in the centre of the village, as well as excavating and replacing a number of footpaths. 

There are also plans to introduce a central paved area in the centre of the village, as well as associated drainage and public lighting works.

Cllr Alan Coleman (Ind) said he had recently attended a meeting in the village and there was general support for the plan and questioned if it was possible to extend the proposed footpaths to the playground there.

‘Parking is also a big issue in the village and under Council proposals  we're looking at reducing  car parking spaces from 42  to 10,' said Cllr Coleman.

‘We should look at making some of it a paved area so people can park there but people are delighted that work will happen in the village,' he added.

Cllr Rachel McCarthy (SF) said there was a general welcome from residents.

‘We discussed it before with the OPW, but it's great that works are happening,' said Cllr McCarthy.

Charlie McCarthy, senior executive engineer with Cork County Council, said there is uncertainty with the OPW.

‘Local drainage works are part of the scheme but it's not a resolution to the flood problem – it will never relieve the flooding,' said Mr McCarthy.

Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) also raised the issue of safety for people going from the village to the playground.

Brendan Fehily, executive engineer with Cork County Council, said that there are two parties involved in the project, the Non-National Roads Design Office and the county architect, and it was a huge opportunity here for the village.

‘There are spaces by the co-op, Council estate and church for parking,' said Mr Fehily.

‘The whole point of  it is to write down what you want and submit it.'

Mr McCarthy said it would be much better to have simple junctions  but that they would deal with submissions as they come in.