Look at de state of Cork, like!
- This topic has 1,897 replies, 111 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 10 months ago by
.
- Posts
Whats this I hear about the axing of airbridges at the new terminal for Cork Airport?This seems an absolutely scandalous decision having spent over 100 million euro on the development.Surely if they need to cut back on costs on the project,then I am sure there are other parts to the development that can be scaled down or delayed rather than this vital part of the new terminal.It would mean certainly no transatlantic flights for the foreseeable future also.I wonder who is behind all this though?It smacks of the vested interests of the Shannon lobby to me.
Anybody got any pictures of developed Bus Station. And by way of a PS, Wagamama really isn’t that nice – harmless enough fare but not the tastiest food in the world.
Cullen opens รขโยฌ4m Government investment in Cork Bus Station
Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen today (24th January 2005) officially opened the newly refurbished Parnell Place Bus Station in Cork. The รขโยฌ4m redevelopment of one of Corkรขโฌโขs landmark buildings will provide new improved facilities for the stationรขโฌโขs three million annual customers.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Cullen said the new Memoranda of Understanding between CIE and the Department of Transport is contributing to an improved and consistent quality of service for CIE passengers.
A key part of the Memorandum is a Service Level Agreement which details the quantity and quality of service provided the three CIE companies on the back of Government investment. Arrangements have been put in place to monitor the delivery of these targets with results reviewed each year.
Minister Cullen said: รขโฌลLike the 42 Service Indicators I introduced to monitor Local Government performance, the CIE service level agreement ensures the public sees where their money is going and the results this investment is producing. It is also a useful tool for Government in identifying where deficiencies might exist so they can be tackled. It is an arrangement that works for passengers, CIE and Government.รขโฌย
Commenting on the new รขโยฌ4m development of Parnell Bus Station, the Minister welcomed the completion of the project ahead of schedule to coincide with the European Capital of Culture.
A complete internal re-furbishment of the two storey building has taken place with a re-designed passenger concourse, an improved bus marshalling area, nine new bus bays, a complete upgrade of all passenger facilities and new passenger information systems. A striking feature of the design is the new tensile fabric canopy at the front of the station.
Minister Cullen welcomed the significantly improved accessibility of the station for people with disabilities. รขโยฌ1.1 million of the capital costs were directed at improving access and comfort for those with disability and for the elderly. New accessibility features include a lift, automatic doors, improved signage and audio communications.
The Minister said the redevelopment brings to รขโยฌ24m the level of Government investment in Cork Bus Eireann services in the past five years.
He said: รขโฌลGovernment investment has brought about a significant improvement in services, including the addition on new routes and increased frequency of services. City bus service departures have increased by 35%. The addition of northern and southern city orbital routes has attracted thousands of new customers. 109 new buses have been provided with 92% of buses wheelchair accessible.
รขโฌลIn addition to the improvements on Cork City services, there has also been significant frequency improvements on all Expressway departures from Cork with hourly services to Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Tralee, 6 daily services to and from Dublin and numerous services daily to places such as Athlone, Clonmel, Kilkenny and Rosslare Harbour.
รขโฌลAll of this means better services, increased customer numbers, improved working standards and a better return for taxpayersรขโฌย, he said.
The Minister also announced the extension of the No.5 bus route to Kent Station in the coming months to facilitate commuters going to U.C.C., C.I.T., and FAS offices. รขโฌลThis will provide a quick, reliable journey time for people on the western suburbs of the Cityรขโฌย, he said.@kefu wrote:
Anybody got any pictures of developed Bus Station. And by way of a PS, Wagamama really isn’t that nice – harmless enough fare but not the tastiest food in the world.
stopped reading right there. sorry. you sir, are a cad.
@Torquemada wrote:
Whats this I hear about the axing of airbridges at the new terminal for Cork Airport?This seems an absolutely scandalous decision having spent over 100 million euro on the development.Surely if they need to cut back on costs on the project,then I am sure there are other parts to the development that can be scaled down or delayed rather than this vital part of the new terminal.It would mean certainly no transatlantic flights for the foreseeable future also.I wonder who is behind all this though?It smacks of the vested interests of the Shannon lobby to me.
Surely this isn’t true.
In relation to Shannon… why does the government continue to subsidise this region to the detriment of the greater cork region… what ever happenend to free market policies?
Privatise the airport and let it develop its own services.I have to agree with Torquemada – even the idea of axing the air-bridges for the Cork Aiport Terminal development is an utter outrage and is not short of disgusting! Anyone who regularly uses the airport, especially business travellers, the elderly and families with you children will tell you that having to run across a mile of concrete in rainy or stormy weather just to board an aircraft in this day and age at the airport is disgraceful – especially given Cork Airport’s geography. Unlike Dublin where buses are provided or the aircraft is simply a few steps away (like at Pier A) – to board an aircraft at Cork usually requires a hefty hike.
For a project that is costing in the region of 156m euros (16m euros over-bidget so far) – to axe the air-bridges (among the most central aspects behind the development) and the removal of the covered walkway between the new multi-storey and terminal is inexcusable. If the DAA (who still control the purse strings for the time being) need to penny pinch like that – there are a million and one other options available. Removing the air-bridges will reduce the project costs by only 1.3m euros. Bigger savings can be made elsewhere – incl. Shannon. If the air-bridges don’t arrive with this development – it will be many years, if at all, before they ever do. I would call on the people and business leaders of Cork to stand-up to this – what is in effect, yet again, another blatant side-lining of development from Cork by the Government. Furthermore, Cork Airport now carries more passengers p.a. than Shannon, and will exceed its passenger volume by up to 500,000 this year (according to CAA projections). It’s all well and good to promise this and that – or even provide an element of finance so far – but when you make a promise you must keep to it and see it through. An utter disgrace.
Airlines pay more to use airbridges. Even assuming that only Aer Lingus and Czech Airlines opt to use them, you’re still lookng at 800,000 pax per annum. At 50c per passenger charge, and allowing for generous operating expenses of E200K per annum, they’d still have paid for themselves in under 7 years. There may be a case for reducing the number, but even the business case isn’t there for removing them.
@jungle wrote:
Airlines pay more to use airbridges. Even assuming that only Aer Lingus and Czech Airlines opt to use them, you’re still lookng at 800,000 pax per annum. At 50c per passenger charge, and allowing for generous operating expenses of E200K per annum, they’d still have paid for themselves in under 7 years. There may be a case for reducing the number, but even the business case isn’t there for removing them.
another question in relation to the airport… how come Ryanair only operate one route from Cork airport?
Horgan’s Quay doesn’t seem to be at the top of CIE’s to do list: http://www.eveningecho.ie/pdf/front.pdf
Well I did promise you VIS images of the Jurys Hotel redevelopment by O’Callaghan Properties. However, I was able to print a number of other images (these unfortunately are in black & white and to top it all off, my scanner is useless as most of you probably already know! I’m getting a new one, I promise) – and do not convey the development adequately), but better than nothing, at least for now. I’ll keep sussing the formats out.
The redeveloped site from a east-west bird’s eye perspective.
A before and after picture of the development (east to west) along Lancaster Quay.– once again my apologises for the poor quality, but I’ll work on it to rectify that soon.
*UPDATES*๐ Rosridge Limited (James G. O’Mahony & Beacon Court Group), Enable Ireland and St. Patrick’s Hospice lodged their outline planning application with Cork County Council for a 500m euro medical campus on the fringe of the city’s Western suburbs at the Bandon Round Roundabout (as prev. posted). The development will include a 100-bedroom privaet hospital w/ full facilities, a 100-bed hospice (for St. Patricks), private 43-bed facility for Enable Ireland, park & ride, associated medical accommodation, consultant suites etc. Consulting Engineers are Malachy Walsh & Partners.
๐ก And regarding Horgan’s Quay, CIE Chairman John Lynch has stated (yesterday at the official opening of the refurbished Cork Bus Station) that the development of Horgan’s Quay is not a priority of the company for the time being. However, the previously mentioned redevelopment of Kent Station is due to see an application lodged with CCC mid-2005, with the station ready for 2007. Under CIE reigns it will be at least then before Horgan’s Quay sees any movement, lest something remarkable happens, according to Mr. Lynch.Also at the opening of the Bus Station, Minister Martin Cullen refused to answer questions regarding the supposed removal of air-bridges at Cork Airport’s new terminal. Why is that Minister?
-> A “record” 147 seperate objections have been lodged against Mark Kelleher’s 92-unit residential development near Westend in Bishopstown (That’s 2940 euros worth of objection). It’s pretty excessive – undoubtedly my friends at CAHRA were out there rallying support. But whatever about lodging objections based on reasonable argument – objection because of high-rise factors??? People, it has 4 floors (5 storeys). Mr. Kelleher hasn’t exactly had a healthy relationship when its come to gaining planning grants – so it will be really interesting to see how this one turns out.
mickeydocs – as regards Ryanair, pure and simple – they’re playing hard to get. The don’t want to pay the fees! But my inkling is that Ryanair aren’t really suped up with plans for Cork (yet) even if fees were lowerd.And if Aer Lingus decline airbridges in their new pennypinching regime, how are the airbridges to be financed?
Regrettably, the “low cost revolution” combined with the high number of regional aircraft means airbridge use is destined to be for a smaller than hitherto expected proportion of movements at ORK.
Lexington, if only… although based on CCC’s solution to very similar antics from the Courts Services – it could be a viable solution. If anyone has the ear of a local councillor, let the case for CPO be made! How depressing to see this kind of behaviour from yet another arm of the public service towards the South. If it’s beyond Citiwest or the N11, it doesn’t matter.
Mind you, judging from Treasury with major problems, delays/stalling etc with Spencer Dock (an undeniable cash cow for CIE) one could hardly expect better treatment for Horgans Qy.
It seems land is becoming increasingly unlocked on the South Docks. This could potentially give rise to all investment going only on one side of the river and by the time Horgans Qy EVENTUALLY becomes available interest is lost and a great opportunity is wasted.
That’s it decided, next time I head South it will be by CAR!Well, as airbridges would be used by Boeing 737s and A320/321s, the potential market for air-bridges is Aer Lingus (10 fpd), BMI Baby (6 fpd – although 4 fpd as the aircraft currently used on Cardiff flights are not suitable), Ryanair (5 fpd), EasyJet (2 fpd) and Czech Airlines (1 fpd). Add to these, charter flights which range from an average of 6 fpd in summer to 1 fpd in winter. This is a potential market of 25-30 fpd before growth is accounted for.
However, Ryanair currently have a policy of avoiding using them if possible.
With every business venture, there is an element of risk, but these figures would suggest current demans for at least 2 air-bridges (based on 6-10 slots being sold).
Incidentally, Ryanair are introducing a new route from Cork to Liverpool in April. I think this was primarily because EasyJet were rumoured to be eyeing the route. Supposedly, EasyJet are also considering Cork-Newcastle, so it will be interesting to see if Ryanair do anything there.
…with regard to the airbridges at Cork Airport – a little birdy told me very recently that Aer Lingus spoke with the airport and told them that they wouldn’t need them (cost-cutting). I don’t think Aer Arann can use them, and Ryanair avoid them like the plague. That just leaves a small few others, and the holiday charters who work to a budget anyway. Looks like that tradition of getting soaked going to and from planes is going to continue ….. !!! Not long now before we enter the 20th century, eh?
its an absolute disgrace to hear that such an integral part of the airport development may be shelved, and I don’t even want to get started on the Horgans Quay site because its a disgrace! I hate CIE, they already have such a hold over my life at the moment because I have no choice but to rely on their chronic services every day to get me around. Thats not bad enough without hearing that they have put the redevelopment of this site back to at least 2007. I want them to move now not later. Get up off their pampered public sector asses and open this site for development. It has the potential to create a high density urban quarter in the city that is not totally car dependant! a CPO would be music to my ears and it would be a great coo for the council and overall the peoples republic! Let the revolution begin
@theblimp wrote:
…with regard to the airbridges at Cork Airport – a little birdy told me very recently that Aer Lingus spoke with the airport and told them that they wouldn’t need them (cost-cutting). I don’t think Aer Arann can use them, and Ryanair avoid them like the plague. That just leaves a small few others, and the holiday charters who work to a budget anyway. Looks like that tradition of getting soaked going to and from planes is going to continue ….. !!! Not long now before we enter the 20th century, eh?
I was told the same…but I still want them! ๐
Well on a brighter note, the Indo had a nice little feature on the Cork Office Market today – vacancies rates are among the lowest in the country and the take-up rate has again perked up with a particular emphasis regarding new and much wanted 3rd Generation office accommodation. The city centre has again become the favoured destination for office location – but it is feared that the suburbs may come back to haunt the city centre unless further new supply continues to be generated. Developments at Blackrock (Tellengana = 60,000sq ft), Ballincollig (Ballincollig Town Centre = 130,000sq ft) and Blackpool (Blackpool Retail Park = 40,000sq ft – tax designated) all pose attractive threats – with the only substantial new city centre office developments coming on stream this year at Copley Street (60,000sq ft – Corbett Bros.) and No.6 Lapp Quay (60,000sq ft). Developments at City Quarter & 21 Lavitts Quay are now almost entirely let or sold. Only 1 small unit remains at Copley Hall (Howard Holdings other office development on Anglesea Street – its restrictive size has made it somewhat of a less attractive option apparently, but I’ve heard that a Dublin-based architectural firm having been eyeing it up in an expansion move into Cork).However, I am aware of at least 3 other planned office developments for the city centre – hopefully to be announced later this year – 2 along the docklands area (Clontarf and Deane Streets?). Other developments such as Water Street and Eglinton Street will offer limited office space. A few other developments are also in the works. It is doubtful any of these will come on-stream before 2006 however.
Still, a confident boost for Cork office developers!
Ref : 97 unit development in Bishopstown by Mark Kelleher TP04/29094
Looking at this on CCC’s web page there’s 156 submissions and a heavy
petition lodged by the miilitant OAP’s in Bishopstown.For too long these heavies
have stopped development of this area ,and let Douglas ,Mahon and Blackpool (even!)
forge ahead with cinemas ,restaurants and other well desiged res schemes.
Is this another scheme to regenerate Bishopstown, and not student driven
to be thrown aside????@planningdept wrote:
there’s 156 submissions and a heavy
petition lodged by the miilitant OAP’s in Bishopstown.For too long these heavies
have stopped development of this areaYou’d better take there pensions off them, it wasn’t designed for such frivolous use
Do you ever listen to what you are actually saying?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
