Funding crux over vital Kanturk link road

CORK County Council has been urged to do all within its power to ensure the requisite funding is secured for a full vehicular link road in the village of Kanturk.

Last week it emerged the authority had initiated the Part 8 planning process for the link road from the proposed new national school to the Bluepool, fulfilling a condition laid down by An Bord Pleanala.

It stipulated that the new primary school “can not become operational” until a road and/or footpath linking the site to Bluepool was put in place by the local authority.

However, while the planning application has made provision for a road, a senior council official said that the final decision on what form the link would take would depend on available funding.

The council’s director of road services, Tom Stritch, said that while their preferred option would be a link road over a footpath and while the authority had the money to pay for a footpath it did not currently have the estimated €827,000 needed to build the road.

“If, and when, planning has been granted we will review the funding situation before making a final decision on which option to take,” said Mr Stritch.

At the February Kanturk/Mallow committee meeting Cllr John Paul O’Shea (Ind) welcomed the fact that the planning application had gone “all bells and whistles” for the road.

“However, there is obviously an issue with funding and I believe this committee needs to be very vocal in terms of making sure the funding is secured the build the road,” said Cllr O’Shea.

“I think we need to move on this as quickly as possible to secure this funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland through our local regional funding or from our own reserves. The message is that we must go through with the road in its entity,” he added.

Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) agreed, saying common sense dictated the road had to be built.

“Anyone who knows Kanturk will realise that without the link road the town will simply close down and people won’t be able to get in or out of the school. Anyone with a shred of common sense can see that,” he said.

Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) said it was crucially important that the road be built.

“The school is important, but a link road is equally important for businesses in the town. If its not built, the town will grind to a halt,” warned Cllr Moynihan..

It was agreed that once planning had been granted the committee would seek an urgent meeting with Mr Stritch to explore what avenues could be taken to secure full funding for the link road.

Cllr Gerard Murphy (FF) said it was important to emphasise the planning application submitted by the council was for the full road, not just the footpath.

“Tom Stritch is well aware of the importance of this road to the town and in that context I believe he will do all that he can to ensure the funding for it is secured,” he said.