Bus Eireann ‘must deliver’ Cork Road decision in writing

A councillor has re-enforced calls for action for the much maligned Cork Road bus shelter as local authority officials are set to write to Bus Eireann.

Cllr Noel McCarthy was speaking at the recent Fermoy Municipal District meeting. Not content with assurances for a move of focus to the Cork Road stop, he called for more stronger action.

“This Council (needs to) write to Bus Eireann and enquire as to why they are not using the bus shelter on Cork Road as a pick-up location,” the councillor said.

Cllr McCarthy said that the fault for the non use of the facility was with Bus Eireann and he asked that urgent correspondence be sent to the company.

“We need to write to them, to get from them that the bus stop will be used, it needs to be used. “It has never been used, we need to see it in writing from Bus Eireann,” he said.

Cllr William O’Leary backed the proposal and said that there has been a failure by Bus Eireann to adequately promote the location.

“I fully support Cllr McCarthy. I have been consistent in saying that bus stop needs to be promoted.

“The Cork Road bus stop would take a lot of congestion away from the centre of the town not just as much as MacCurtain Street. Most people are dropped off to take the bus journey so it makes sense it would be in a place that would facilitate this,” he said.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn said he had previously spoken at length regarding the situation and called for immediate action to promote the stop.

“Put the word out loud and clear. It is very accessible, and easier, to go there than a bottle neck in the town. It is a no brainer. In any other town in Europe, they would be using it. Cop yourselves on, use it,” he blasted.

Cllr Deirdre O’Brien said that she supported the motion saying that it was important to keep the traffic outside of town.

Cllr Kay Dawson also supported the motion and said that she had no doubt that Cllr McCarthy was correct in saying that it is not being used.

CONSIDERATION FOR SERVICE USERS

Separately, Joe Tobin, a Fermoy community activist, has been working on the bus stop problem for a number of years and he contacted TheAvondhu to have his say.

But he believes the siting of the main stop at the Cork Road will adversely effect service users.

“The problem I would have is we need to consider our elderly population, they would have to walk up to get the bus, it is not a short walk up.

“I totally agree that the bus shelter is needed, but putting it on the Cork Road does not take into account the problems of a late, wet night - they at least need to provide better lighting.

“They need to get a viability study. They need to consider the travelling public and this all needs to be put out for full public consultation. I appreciate the concerns of business people and residents, but they need to consider the people who use the service also,” he said.