Below is the text of the City Managers report that Council received earlier this week, Monday October 10th, on the sale of lands to facilitate to upgrade to Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The report was adopted by 24 votes to 6, I voted in favour of the Managers report.

While I am aware of the frustrations and concerns of residents living in the vicinity of Páirc Uí Chaoimh on match days – I think the redevelopment
presents an opportunity for us to have these concerns addressed.

Páirc Uí Chaoimh will always be part of the landscape in the Blackrock / Ballintemple area. Last Monday night City Council was presented with the option of continuing with a stadium that is over four decades old or to take to opportunity to upgrade Páirc Uí Chaoimh to a first class facility.

However, this also presents us with an opportunity to address the major issues that are of concern to local residents. During the planning process, members of the public will have the opportunity to make submissions and objections on detailed plans.

The City Manager has also requested that the GAA would meet with local residents in order to thrash out the very real problems that are being experienced by those living close to Páirc Uí Chaoimh.  During the redevelopment ofCrokePark, GAA officials had in-depth consultation with members of the public living in the vicinity of the complex. This consultation is still ongoing, with meetings being held quarterly, between the GAA and their nearest neighbours.

Manager’s Report:

INTRODUCTION

On the 14th June, 2010 the following motion was passed by the City Council with regard to the above.

“That the revised proposals from the GAA dated May 2010 for the development of Páirc Uí Chaoimh be facilitated in principle and with this in mind, negotiations take place between the GAA and City Council officials on the details of how this is to be accommodated”.

This decision of Council was on foot of a proposal put to Council over a number of years, culminating with a proposal of An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí of May 2010 which provided for the following main elements:

• The upgrading of Páirc Uí Chaoimh Stadium to accommodate 50,000 persons from its current capacity of 43,500.

• The redeveloped stadium will have significantly enhanced facilities including new player and referee changing facilities, function rooms, hospitality rooms, corporate viewing boxes and associated facilities, medical rooms, gymnasium and restaurant.

• The development of an adjoining All-Weather Floodlit Pitch for playing and coaching facilities and an associated small, seated stand. This additional facility, combined with the existing, enhanced and new facilities to be provided in the redeveloped stadium, being an integral part of the delivery of the Centre of Excellence.

• The development to be carried out in phases with Phase 1 being the upgrading of Páirc Ui Chaoimh and the development of the Centre of Excellence as one project.

• The proposal also required the provision of temporary car parking facilities for major match days, recognising the long standing traditional use of part the former Showgrounds for this purpose, along with rights of way over access roads/points for appropriate access/egress to/from the complex.

• Along with the use of the facility by An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí for its own purposes, the proposal also indicated that the facilities will be widely available to Clubs, Third Level Colleges, Secondary and Primary Schools in the City and County including those to be developed in Cork Docklands into the future. The proposed use of the upgraded facilities for major concerts/events is also indicated.

PROPOSED DISPOSAL AND PLANNING AND DESIGN PROCESS

In line with Councils decision, negotiations have been taking place with the City Council over the past 18 months, culminating with a concentration of meetings over the past 6-8 weeks. Arising from these I am now in a position to make a recommendation to Council on the proposed disposal of lands, in principle, to facilitate the development proceeding to detailed design and planning stage. I set out below the main terms of the agreement reached:

• Compensation of €1.7m will be paid to the City Council for the disposal of 6.82 acres of land to accommodate the upgrading of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the development of a Centre of Excellence. The location of the lands in question are as shown on the attached drawing.

• Marina Hall, which is effectively integrated into, and located under the stadium, will be offered at a nominal sum of €50.

• The City Council will immediately make arrangements to prepare a Master Plan for Marina Park, as committed to in the City Development Plan. The Master Plan will set out an overall design proposal for the development of Marina Park and will specifically address the following:

o The need to provide for the development of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Centre of Excellence and its integration into the overall Marina Park.

o Detailed design proposals for the former Showgrounds area and Atlantic Pond area which immediately adjoin the Páirc Uí Chaoimh development area. This will determine the final exact land take, and boundary delineation, in conjunction with the GAA. Any minor adjustment in land take arising from this detailed design process will be reflected in a pro-rata compensation adjustment based on the average price per acre.

o The opportunity for maximising linkages and permeability for the general public between the Showgrounds lands, the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Centre of excellence, and the Atlantic Pond area.

o The integration of the development of the entire area with the main public access routes of Monahan Road and the Marina. This will also assess the most appropriate access points to Marina Park, Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Centre of Excellence.

o The need to provide detailed guidance on design elements of the stadium and Centre of Excellence development particularly with regard to stadium and boundary treatment, accessibility and permeability. It is important that both parties achieve an outcome which reflects positively on the status and importance of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Marina Park to Cork City.

o The parking needs for both the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh and for general public use for Marina Park. In this regard the Master Plan process will need to consider how best to accommodate the long established tradition of facilitating the Gaelic Athletic Association with temporary parking facilities on big match days such as Munster Council games and County Senior Finals. The objective will be to accommodate this, insofar as is possible, in a manner which does not adversely affect the wider public use of the Marina Park in a significant manner.

o With regard to this occasional use car parking requirement, the Master Plan exercise will however endeavour to identify a portion of land, which by its nature, may not be suited to development as parkland facilities and which could be leased to, and developed by An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí, at their own cost, for temporary car parking for major match days. Should such an area be identified, the benefits to the Council in terms of Marina Park not being impacted and compromised by occasional large scale car parking use, will be reflected in the agreed purchase price to the value of a €100,000 reduction to €1.6m.

o Outside of major match days, car-parking requirements for all other normal daily activities associated with Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the Centre of Excellence will be accommodated within the 6.82 acres to be disposed of.

o The master plan process will also be used to inform the planning application process. This will ensure that there is opportunity for a high level of engagement between An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí design team, City Council Planning, Recreation & Amenity, Docklands and Roads & Transportation Directorates and, the Master Plan consultants. In making a planning application, An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí will need to assess the traffic impact of the proposed development.

The lodging of a planning application by An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí will be facilitated once the Master Plan is advanced to a stage where there is agreement in principle on the main matters outlined above between City Council Officials and An Choiste Chontae Officials. The broad timelines for this is for a planning application to be capable of being lodged by March 2012.

PROPOSED MAIN TERMS OF A FORMAL SECTION 183 DISPOSAL TO BE BROUGHT TO COUNCIL

The proposal to formerly dispose of the lands will be brought before Council as a Section 183 disposal once An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí is in a position to lodge a planning application. The proposed disposal will be governed by the following main provisions. Others may arise from the design process.

o The disposal will be subject to a planning application being lodged for the entire development within 3 months of the disposal being approved by Council.

o The disposal will be subject to planning permission being granted.

o A 10% refundable deposit will be payable on signing of contracts.

o The sale will be closed once planning permission is granted.

o 40% of the purchase price will be paid on closure with the balance of 50% being payable 24 months after the date of closure.

o Construction of the overall proposed development will commence on site within 3 months of planning permission being granted.

o The development of the All-Weather Pitch and small stand facility cannot be undertaken in advance of the redevelopment of the stadium.

o In the event that construction does not commence within the 3 month period following a grant of planning permission, or only commences on part of the overall development, e.g. where the redevelopment of the stadium would commence but the adjoining all weather playing facility does not commence, the disposal will be rescinded in respect of the lands required for either particular element. In this regard, the lands required for the redevelopment of the stadium and circulation space are deemed to be 2.55 acres and 4.27 acres for the playing facilities associated with the Centre of Excellence.
Details regarding access points, rights of way and access over lands for both parties use are yet to be addressed. The master plan process will determine these final requirements.

BENEFITS TO THE CITY

It is important to consider some of the potential benefits to the City and indeed the wider City Region of the impact of this proposed disposal, the following being of particular merit:

o Páirc Uí Chaoimh will become a modern stadium, within the city, increasing its status and that of Cork City.

o The return to the economy from construction investment of a significant value and, visible development work in Cork Docklands.

o The benefits of activity being brought to the area through the proposed year round use by An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí of the new facilities, in particular the Centre of Excellence. Thus providing an element of passive supervision over the other areas of Marina Park. Indeed the South Docks Local Area Plan refers to the need to give consideration to this issue of supervision particularly around the Atlantic Pond area.

o Increased attraction of Páirc Uí Chaoimh as a location for events, especially large outdoor concerts, as facilities will now be upgraded to meet performers requirements. The outdoor concert capacity will increase to 60,000 from its present 48,000. The direct and indirect economic benefits to the City that could arise from such occasional use are significant.

OBJECTIVE OF THE CITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN, SOUTH DOCKS LOCAL AREA PLAN AND ZONING

The current zoning objective for Marina Park is as follows:

Cork City Council will actively encourage the development of the following elements in order to guide the sustainable development of the Marina Park Precinct:

- Provision of a sub-regional park.
- Working with Cummann Luth-Chleas Gael Choiste Chontae Chorcaí to accommodate the upgrading of Páirc Uí Chaoimh to a modern stadium and to facilitate the development of a Centre of Excellence which may involve the transfer of some additional lands.
- Reservation of lands to the southwest of Atlantic Pond to facilitate surface water attenuation.
- Provision of a high quality public realm and “eco-park” in association with the Public Realm Strategy of this Plan.
- Upgrading of Marina slipways and rowing facilities.
- Require the protection and enhancement of the natural heritage and biodiversity of the area.
- Promotion of international design procurement competition for the design of Marina Park.
- Provision of public art and outdoor performance space.

While the above zoning objective provides specifically for the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh to a modern stadium and, to facilitate the development of a Centre of Excellence including the transfer of additional land, the entire Marina Park lands area is zoned as “Public Open Space”. This zoning is different to that of Páirc Uí Chaoimh which is zoned as “Sports Facilities” recognising its specific use.

It therefore appears that the wording of the zoning objective for Marina Park, as it relates to the redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the development of a Centre of Excellence, with the specific zoning applied to the lands to be disposed of, are in conflict with each other.

Should Council approve in principle the proposed disposal of the lands to An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí then it may be necessary to bring a variation of the City Development Plan to Council for approval to deal with this matter. This is a matter which will be given early attention as part of the master planning process for the overall Marina Park.

In terms of public open space generally for the City and South Docklands, the City Council’s current Parks Strategy 2000 is being updated. This will reassess current quantity and quality of provision of public open space and will need to bring proposals to deal with any public open space deficiencies in terms of the future development of the City.

In this regard, there is a considerable amount of public open space within Marina Park. However, much of the current space is of a quality that makes it unusable at present. Similarly, significant potential is available for the city generally at the former Landfill on Kinsale Road and a design brief is being progressed for this at present. The disposal of the public open space to An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí, specifically the 4.27 acres associated with the Centre of Excellence, will need to be addressed in this context.

BASIS OF THE CONSIDERATION TO BE PAID FOR THE LANDS

The current market value of the lands is professionally valued at €90,000 per acre, recognising the negligible market demand, lack of bank funding and poor confidence levels. This, however, would disregard any special neighbour value that would apply in these circumstances.

The consideration agreed with the GAA for the disposal of the 6.82 acres is equivalent to €249,267 per acre at a disposal value of €1.7m. This is professionally considered to be substantially above market value, even when you make allowance for the neighbour character of the transaction.

Members will be aware of the long history associated with the securing of the Showgrounds land for City development culminating with a CPO process and settlement by way of arbitration. For the information of Members of Council, the settlement of compensation for the Showgrounds land was essentially under the rules that apply to equivalent reinstatement as opposed to market value being applied. Building costs made up a major proportion of the settlement figure, indeed up to 80%. It is, however, the case that the “bubble” character of the market in 2007 may have reflected values of between €400,000 and €500,000 per acre. However, by 2009 the market had dropped significantly as reflected by the purchase of lands at Curraheen by the City Council at €177,000 per acre.

It is also important to recognise that, if no development were to proceed at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, there would still be a need for regularisation of circulation space around the existing stadium. This would effectively require 1.66 acres at a minimum and would be land which would not be capable of being integrated into Marina Park.

Should the disposal proceed then I am of the view that the proceeds of the sale should be reinvested into the development of Marina Park.

I recommend this disposal in principle to Council, and would seek your approval to progress matters with An Choiste Chontae Chorcaí so as to facilitate them making a planning application on the lands in question. Prior to the lodging of a planning application, a formal disposal will be brought to Council to reflect the outcome of the finer detailed issues that will be addressed as part of the master planning process and pre-planning discussions which will take place over the next 6 months.

TIM LUCEY,
CITY MANAGER
.
10th October, 2011.

Speakers will include: Sergeant Tony Davis, Crime Prevention Unit, Anglesea Street Garda Station, Sergeant Trevor Laffan, Community Policing, Anglesea Street Garda Station and John O’Mahony, Development Officer, Age Action Cork.

There will also be information on financial issues and the Friendly Call Service.

The Lord Mayor will open the event and the well known Cork comedian Billa Connell will also be in attendance to provide some entertainment.

For further information please contact:

Linda Mc Kernan

Community Development Worker

Cork City Partnership

021 4302310

lmckernan@partnershipcork.ie

Keyholders/caretakers are again asked to check their properties for leaks (schools, offices, commercial/industrial buildings, outside yards, vacant houses etc.). Water supplies should be switched off pending completion of any necessary repairs.

City Council crews are working to repair leaks on the mains and customers are advised that this work can give rise to temporary disruption, pressure fluctuations and temporary discolouration

While areas on elevated ground have also experienced disruption today, it is expected that sufficient mains supply will be delivered today to ensure the refilling of storage tanks in houses and other buildings

In order to assist householders with supply difficulties, stand pipes are being set up at the following locations:

• Boreenamanna Road (east of the junction of Wallace Avenue)
• Deerpark
• Commons Road (Blackpool Church)
• Old Youghal Road (By Collins Barracks)
• Old Youghal Road (by Glenamoy Road)

Stand pipes will be operational from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today (27th December 2010) and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow (28th December 2010).

In order to conserve and maintain supplies night restrictions will be imposed over a small number of areas which have very high leakage levels. These are predominately the higher areas on the northside of the city. Supplies will be restricted from 7 p.m. this evening (27th December 2010) and again tomorrow evening (28th December 2010). Supplies will be restored from 10 a.m. each morning. While it will take a number of hours to restore supplies to some of these areas, all such areas will receive sufficient mains supplies each day to refill storage tanks in houses and other buildings.

Customers experiencing problems can call us on 4966512 (24 hours a day).

Currently all Roads Maintenance crews are undertaking salting and gritting operations on footpaths and roads throughout the city and are responding to reports of ice at specific locations. These operations will continue throughout the day and it is anticipated at this time that there will another full salting run this evening. The City Council has sufficient supplies of salt and grit at present but is dependent on demand.

Additionally, in response to demands, the City Council is making salt/grit available to residents associations from this afternoon. The collection details are as follows:-

Times:

• Friday 2.30pm – 5.00 pm;
• Saturday 10am – 4.00pm;
• Sunday 10am – 4.00pm;

Locations:

• North: Knocknaheeny Avenue off Harbor View Road at ex-Housing Area Office depot.
• South: Roads South Depot at Ravenscourt, Skehard Road

Loading Arrangements:

A limited number of sandbags are available at the depots but people are encouraged to bring their own bags/containers if possible. Bags to be self filled but shovels will be available at the depots. People are reminded to exercise due care during the operation.

Supplies are subject to availability of City Council salt stocks and of course continuing cold weather. Continuation of this arrangement will be reviewed on Monday.

The City Archaeologist, having reviewed the Ordnance Survey 1869 map for the area, found that the road in question is indicated but is not named. As Clover Hill House is shown within the present Mahon Golf Course, the city Archaeologist and Conservation Officer have suggested a name commemorating this such as Clover Hill Lane.

In recognition of this fact, it was proposed to officially name the road which links the Skehard Road with the Mahon Golf course and Mahon Industrial Estate as shown on the map attached as “Clover Hill Lane.”

However, a number of Council members recommended that this proposal would go to public consultation. So in the coming weeks this proposal will be advertised for your opinion.

TIDAL FLOOD ALERT FOR CORK CITY

Valid from Thursday 07 / 10 / 2010 to Monday 11 / 10 / 2010.

The natural cycle of High Tides for the following days is predicted for the times given below:

Friday 8th October 2010 at 18.41

Saturday 9th October 2010 at 07.01 and 19.23

A tidal surge & strong south easterly winds are predicted. These factors combined will increase the tide levels over the natural tide levels.

During this period there is a danger of Tidal Flooding in the City. It is possible that flooding may occur in the low lying areas of the City Centre including Sawmill Street, Cotter Street, Stable Lane, Union Quay, Morrisons Quay, Corn Market Street, Frenchs Quay, Wandesford Quay, Oliver Plunkett Street, Lavitts Quay, Kyrls Street & Kyrls Quay.

Householders and businesses should take Precautionary Measures to protect property.

“That Cork City Council would run a pilot scheme, to expore the advantages of making the Marina a traffic free pedestrianised area at weekends, with a view to a more permanent implementation of the scheme.”

At the Roads and Transportation functional committee meeting last week I received the following report on the motion:

“In principle the Traffic Division would be supportive of the proposal to convert the Marina area to a traffic free zone at weekends. However, the route at present serves the various needs of the various rowing clubs located on the Marina, Páirc Uí Chaoimh and also private houses at the eastern end of the Marina. Any proposals to pedestrianise the area for certain periods would have to consider not alone their needs but also those of An Garda Siochána and the needs of the emergency services such as the City Fire Brigade and the Ambulance Services.

To provide a pedestrianised area would require resources to be provided by City Council on an on-going basis to provide the necessary signage, barriers, etc. and until such time as funding is provided, the implementation of a‟ pedestrianisation pilot scheme‟ for The Marina cannot be undertaken.”

I and other councillors  were not happy with this report. It is obvious that all stakeholders who use the Marina would have to be catered for if such a pilot scheme were to proceed and this was the rationale behind my motion, asking that City Council would explore these possibilities. That the scheme was dismissed by the Traffic Division because of a lack of funding, when no breakdown of costs were presented to the meeting was also disappointing.

It was agreed not to approve this report, until further information was available, and it was referred to a meeting of the local councillors in the area for further discussion.

**I would be interested to hear your views on this idea.**

In order to deliver on the ambition of encouraging school children to walk and cycle to school, it is proposed as a trial project to reduce speed limits in the vicinity of the schools from the present 50 kph to 30 kph. The six schools listed have been selected to carry out the pilot project:

• Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown;

• Nagle Community College, Mahon;

• North Monastery Secondary School, North Monastery Road;

• Scoil Barra Naofa, Beaumont;

• St Brendan’s and St Mark’s, The Glen;

• Sunday’s Well NS, Blarney Road.

If the pilot project proves to be successful and subject to funds being made available, it is intended that the reduced speed limits where possible will be introduced in the vicinity of all schools over the next few years. Under the pilot scheme, it is proposed that the special speed limit of 30 kph would be applied as follows:

• Each Monday to Friday, including holiday periods

• From 08.00 to 18.00 hours

• Within a 500 metre radius of schools

To give effect to the proposal, procedures under Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, which provide for the introduction of special speed limits will have to be followed. Accordingly the Cork City Council bye-laws will have to be created. This will involve a full public consultation process, including consultation with the Garda Commissioner.

It was agreed at our most recent council meeting to proceed to advertise the proposal and commence a public consultation process for the new speed limits. Following completion of the public consultation process a report will be prepared on the amendments to the bye-laws and issued.

As you know, in the summer I reported on the proposed new playground that was earmarked for the village. The Part 8 process was begin immediately and all going well, City Council had hoped to be in a position to commence the physical development work by late Autumn.

However, delays were experienced during the summer finalising some of the legal requirements and it is now not expected that the Part 8 planning process will commence until October.

At that time, full Public Consultation will take place with all the existing users of the village and the draft plans will be made available, when your submissions will be invited for consideration.

I will update you again, once the plans are publicly available.

*Plans to include:

The first phase of which will comprise the provision of a children’s playground and park with plaza and seating. It will be bounded by Convent Road, the main Blackrock Road and the entrance to the Ursuline School.

The wall along Convent Avenue will be set back to allow for residents parking. The wall fronting the main road will be replaced with railings to improve safety and to afford a view of the new facility from the centre of the village. The old public toilets will be removed.

It is estimated that the overall cost will amount to €1.2m.

Having spoken to a number of the parents with children in Crab Lane again this week, who received a further update from the HSE, the following information has come to light:

• Just half of the school has been screened to date (i.e. 120 of 220 pupils)

• five children with full-blown TB and 20 with a latent form of the disease have been diagnosed

• three staff members were referred for consultant respiratory physician review as a precaution

I want all the children in Crab Lane to be offered the BCG Vaccine as a matter of priority.

Many children returning to school next week have been left exposed to the TB virus, because of a gap in services in Cork. I think as a result of this most recent outbreak, the children in Crab Lane School need to be prioritised for the BCG vaccine. Parents I have spoken over the past number of days and weeks have expressed huge concerns at being added to the very end of the vaccination waiting list, which means it could be up to two years before their children will be offered the BCG vaccine.

The enormity of the situation I feel has not yet been fully realised by the HSE. It is quite concerning that nearly two weeks after the public were made aware of the issue, less than half the children at the school have been screened. This is unacceptable, given the anxiety that over one hundred families are experiencing as they wait to be called for the Mantoux test.