Mallow roundabout works put back until next year
A SENIOR Cork County Council official has conceded work is unlikely to start on a major plan of works at the Annabella Roundabout in Mallow before the end of this year.
The roundabout, which is already a serious peak-time traffic blackspot, is to undergo an overhaul in order to cope with the anticipated increase in HGV traffic from Dairygold’s expanded West End operation.
In 2012 the then Mallow Town Council granted Dairygold planning permission for the West End expansion with conditions, one of them being they pay a ‘special contribution’ of €514,836 for works at the roundabout
These planned works entail the redesign of the centre island and approach kerbs to create a second traffic lane facilitating the flow of north and southbound traffic.
Dairygold appealed the condition claiming that it was unfair to place the entire cost of the works on them, instead proposing a payment of 17.8% of the costs on the basis that their expansion would only result in a 17.8% increase in HGV’s using the roundabout
An Bord Pleanala ruled in their favour, ordering that €423,000 of the contribution be refunded to Dairygold by the council “in accordance with a fixed payment schedule.”
Last December hopes that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) would cover the cost of the shortfall were dashed when its regional manager Paul Moran wrote to Cork County Council saying they had “no obligation to do so.”
“We have sought legal advice and see no basis why TII should refund the balance,” wrote Mr Moran.
The authority said that in light or TII’s stance the cash strapped local authority had no option but to “review the entire project and examine how it could be funded”.
At the time Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said the lack of available funding for the project from council coffers has effectively left the project “dead on its feet.”
However, in March of this year, much to the relief of the authority, TII reviewed their position and agreed to refund 80% of the cost to Dairygold in phased instalments - paving the way for the project to go ahead.
Senior council engineer Jim Moloney said it had been hoped the works would commence before the end of 2016.
With no sign of work yet commencing, Cllr Melissa Mullane (SF) raised the issue with council officials at the October Kanturk/Mallow committee meeting, asking if a time-frame for the works had been decided.
Mr Moloney replied that tenders for the project were due back by middle of next week.
“It will take a number of weeks to assess the tenders and appoint a contractor. I know that we were told works would start before Christmas, but that is unlikely happen at this stage,” he said.
In response to a further query from Cllr Mullane, Mr Moloney confirmed the delay would not impact on the availably of funding for the project.
“I will come back to the committee with a full update on progress next month,” he said.