Call to action over Ballydesmond’s ‘appalling’ roads
A CORK county councillor has called on the county council, Irish Water and Eirgrid to come together for a public meeting to update locals on the timescale for major infrastructural works planned for Ballydesmond village and the surrounding area.
Cllr Bernard Moynihan said he was particularly concerned about what he described as the “disgraceful” condition of local roads and footpaths, which he said had fallen into an “unacceptable” state of repair.
“The appalling condition of the roads in Ballydesmond and the approach roads to the village are completely unacceptable in this day and age, and represent a very real safety hazard for road traffic and pedestrians alike,” said a furious Cllr Moynihan.
“This is not something that has happened overnight. I have been raising this issue at council meetings for a long time and have been inundated with calls from local residents who are, in my view, justifiably angry at this ongoing situation.”
While it is understood that Cork County Council has committed to address the condition of locals roads, this cannot be done until major infrastructural works in the village have been completed.
These include the planned upgrading of water mains and power lines running from Newmarket to beyond Ballydesmond.
“However, both of these projects have been delayed and are running considerably behind schedule. In the meantime, locals roads have been allowed to deteriorate to the point where they resemble something akin to a building site,” said Cllr Moynihan.
“I think it is now vitally important that all of the relevant stakeholders – the council, Irish Water and Eirgrid – come together for a public meeting with public representatives and locals. I believe the community deserve an update on this situation and are given a detailed timeline for the completion of projects so that the local road network can be brought up to an acceptable standard,” he added.