douglas

God that Fleming proposal is a traffic disaster. The only effective entrance/exit should be on South Douglas Rd but by all accounts himself and Kenny don’t see eye to eye hence this disgusting and desperate land grab on the main Douglas Rd.

Hope this works, this is my first time posting a picture,
This is a picture of the tory top bar new planning permission which was lodged at the start of the month. Looks good for the area which is benefiting from the opening of the new Aldi and the Mace which will soon open.

Other things which i noticed was that Fleming are soon to hear on whether they get permission on the new entrance on the douglas road, It would be good to see this being given the permission but i don’t think with the size of the development it will do any favours to the already heavy traffic in the area.

Looking at the academy street development it seems a bit bland but i’m sure it will look a million times better than what was previously there. Pity the initial proposal had to be adjusted.

prob should be in the Transport thread but can someone explain what these famous Green Routes are? I thought it was that the bus got its own lane. Much is made of the grange to douglas route but I cant understand how they then let the bus drive into traffic in Douglas. Also murmurs about a Douglas to City green route and Carrigaline to Douglas via Maryborough Hill but I cant figure out where they will put the bus lanes for those.

There will be no light rail out to carrigaline due to the topography apparently (arent there swiss trains that can go almost vertical?) so why not when the N28 is being built, put a little track alongside that would run all the way into town

City Hall does show flashes of ambition every now and again, this should be one

@Pug wrote:

prob should be in the Transport thread but can someone explain what these famous Green Routes are? I thought it was that the bus got its own lane. Much is made of the grange to douglas route but I cant understand how they then let the bus drive into traffic in Douglas. Also murmurs about a Douglas to City green route and Carrigaline to Douglas via Maryborough Hill but I cant figure out where they will put the bus lanes for those.

There will be no light rail out to carrigaline due to the topography apparently (arent there swiss trains that can go almost vertical?) so why not when the N28 is being built, put a little track alongside that would run all the way into town

City Hall does show flashes of ambition every now and again, this should be one

The roads from Douglas to the city centre are not wide enough for a bus lane, so barring a very expensive CPO option, a bus lane isn’t feasible. What is on the Green Route is things like intelligent traffic lights – the lights will stay green for the main road unless it detects a car waiting to come on from a side road. Also, there were upgrades to footpaths and pedestrian crossings.

Where it falls short is that the clearway never seems to have been activated (the signs were erected, but all are facing away from the road) meaning that buses have to navigate around stopped cars occasionally. I assume this was after councillors got worried that it would upset local residents, but not be noticed by non-residents. In fact, this is a serious problem (for cars as well as buses), especially at the time that Christ The King school closes.

To be honest, parking should have been banned along the entire length of the South Douglas Road, apart from the few recessed areas like the back of St Finbarr’s Hospital and opposite the Texaco Station. There’s one particularly annoying spot outside the off licence where parking is allowed on a bend on the hill and if anyone has pulled in there, car drivers have to pull out and pray. At least the bus drivers can see over. The worst is that it’s pure laziness as that off licence has a car park.

@jungle wrote:

It’s a bit mad constructing any one storey houses there. What’s that about? Are they sheltered housing for the elderly?

Sheltered housing? I doubt it hugely.

I’m not sure if the 8 houses were taken out or not in the Further Info part of the planning which produced revised drawings – its a huge block of apartments right in the middle of an older residential suburb, I dont think it works at all and theres no mention of the effect on traffic for that number of apartments on the already chock-a-block douglas road. I’ll be very surprised if Bord Pleanala dont change it.

@Leesider wrote:

Talks of economic downturn and all what would be the 4 developments you would like to see go ahead in the city no matter what and why??

Personally
No.1 in the city centre I would go for getting rid of the now empty Capitol Cinema as a must to rejuvenate Grand Parade……as far as I know it is under appeal at the moment but hopefully will go ahead.

No.2 to finish off Cornmarket St with the development at Kyrl’s Quay, don’t know at what stage this is but it would cover up that multi storey car park and clean up one of the biggest derelict sites at the moment.

No.3 is HH proposal for the docklands, this is the most important and my opinion has to ahead for the economic development of Cork. It will include a new bridge, conference/concert venue, landmark buildings, office plate size to compete with Dublin and in the present economic climate much needed construction jobs. BTW when are we expected to hear a final decision on this?

No.4 is the reorientation of the train station and the development Horgan’s Quay, this I cannot see happening for the next 5 years, couldn’t manage to do anything with it during the boom and in tougher times there is not a hope…….but it is much needed as well, as the train station is the first introduction a lot of people get to our city and you know first impressions last!

My Opinion.

Develop Pairc Ui Chaoimh as Stadium for all sports.
This will encourage HH to get on with the proposed hotel which will create jobs and further developement.
At the city end the bonded warehouse is key something cultural is needed there as lapps quay is bland and lacking life in the evenings.
Douglas Swimming Pool needs to be sorted also. How long can this saga continue.
Douglas needs a new streetscape.The place is busier than the city on an average night but yet there are no footpaths and taxi drivers are king.

Fleming Construction got the nod from CCC for 78 houses and 28 apts on the former Nemo GAA grounds on the Douglas rd – a few local residents not happy, i’d say Bord Pleanala all the way – could be a stretch on the traffic situation

I thought it had been revised to go through the FCA premises.

That’s no guarantee that it will solve the traffic issues though. The junction will end up with very poor visibilty towards the city, so it would probably need traffic lights, but then it’s very close to the lights at Bellair and the Cross Douglas Road.

I don’t think there’s any practical way of accessing the Cross Douglas Rd from that site (unless buying up a house which could be allowed to be demolished is considered) and using the South Douglas Rd seems to be out because of developer squabbles. If the FCA can’t be used it would seem the only other access is through St Finbarr’s Hospital.

Incidentally, I don’t rememember substantial local opposition to these plans on any grounds other than the capacity of the traffic and sewerage systems.

Fleming is not interested in resolving the squabbles with Kenny for South Douglas Rd access. Apparently that development is considered too “low rent” to form an access point for his higher value Nemo development.

Incidentally it was the local residents not the planning authority who were opposed to the mid-terrace demoltion in the original plan. I’d say there’s alot more oppositon to developing the Nemo site than you’d think.

@browser wrote:

Quick query on the present ongoing redevelopment works in Douglas. Does anyone have scans / renders of the finished streetscape? They are clearly widening footpaths etc but the current finish is tarmac. Please tell me this is temporary and that the finished streetscape will be considerably better than present indications – as befits an otherwise nice suburb.

Tarmac is being used only as temporary surface during the construction period to avoid any damage to high quality finishes that will be proposed at later stage. I believe Douglas can expect really nice finishes to footpaths and to new Plaza outside Tesco by Spring next year!