ONE of the country’s fastest growing towns has called for a 10-year ban on rezoning land for more houses.
The people of Carrigaline — reputedly the country’s number one commuter town — want Cork County Council to hold off on the rezoning of further land in the area until 2016 so that proper roads and amenities can be put in place.
When currently zoned lands are occupied — including a 1,000-house development at Shannonpark and a 1,500-house development on the eastern side of town — its population will swell from 16,000 to 25,000.
The results of a massive survey of over 1,200 households show that people want a halt to what the community association has labelled ‘rampant developer-led growth’.
The results show that:
96% of people want a ban on rezoning until 2016 so that the provision of proper amenities catches up.
More that half the people think the town’s Western Relief Road is in the wrong place.
Almost three-quarters of people think the town needs another Eastern Relief Road.
94% of people think Carrigaline needs a dedicated planner working exclusively on the town’s issues.
Only 38% of people use public transport but almost 90% of respondents said they would use a light rail system to the city if it was provided.
Almost 3,000 questionnaires were distributed by Carrigaline Community Association last month, with over 1,200 returned. People were asked about a range of issues including planning, traffic, education, sport, transport and youth facilities.
The results highlighted the stark lack of facilities in the town which has no cinema, indoor sports complex, public swimming pool or cultural centre.
While the county council is working on some issues, the community association said that housing development has far outpaced the provision of adequate infrastructure.
Association spokesman Maurice Coveney, who was born in the town in 1939, said the town’s future should be decided by the people living there and not by developers.
“We will be making the county council aware of the preliminary results of the survey within a few days,” he said. “But we have a lot of work to do yet — examining some of the comments which came back in the survey. The section on sports facilities alone attracted over 500 comments.”
Work is expected to be completed within a month at which time the full results of the survey will be published and placed in the town’s library.
In 2002, CSO census figures showed the town had the highest proportion of workers commuting to work by car every day.
At 74%, Carrigaline topped the nation’s list followed by Dunboyne (70%), Tramore (67%) and Naas (65%).
Meanwhile, a study aimed at tackling traffic chaos in and around the town is continuing.
The Carrigaline Transportation and Traffic Study will outline a plan to cope with traffic and transport up to 2020 and it is expected to be completed within weeks.
Irish Examiner
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