North Main Street open for business

A business owner on North Main Street has said that there’s a great vibe since the street was pedestrianised after a building partially collapsed in recent days.

Michael Creedon, owner of Bradley’s, said the street is definitely open for business as the road remains closed to traffic.

It is understood that demolition is to begin shortly on the building at the southern end of the street, which was added to theDerelict Sites Register at the end of 2015.

The area, at the junction of Liberty Street and Castle Street, has been cordoned off and no traffic is permitted on North Main Street.

However, business owners on the street are eager to tell the public that North Main Street is open to business with pedestrian and cyclist access still viable.

Mr Creedon said that rumours that the street was closed “100 per cent would have had an effect” on business for traders on North Main Street.

He told the Cork Independent: “The street is definitely open for business. Pedestrians and cyclists can come up and down the street, delivery vans can get to us. The road is just closed to traffic, it’s as simple as that.”

He added: “There’s also been a pleasant vibe on street since its pedestrianisation.”

Mr Creedon said there’s room for the street to be fully pedestrianisation in the future but added that public transport would have to greatly improve for that to happen, not just on North Main Street but across the city centre.

“If we improve the public transport and get people back living over shops, cars will organically leave the area. That’s years off though but could be a beautiful thing.”

On 20 June, Cork City Fire and Building Control Department responded to a report of a possible dangerous structure on North Main Street.

The street was closed to ensure public safety and to enable Cork City Council’s Building Control inspectors to carry out an assessment of the structure.

The owner of the building was contacted and advised of their responsibility in relation to the building.

The Building Control section is working with the building owner and their engineers in relation

to making the building

safe.

In the interest of public safety, the area surrounding the building will remain cordoned off as works progress.

‘Thankfully no one was hurt’

Calls have been made for City Hall to come up with a new strategy to deal with derelict sites, especially given the state of the housing crisis on Leeside.

The call came from the Green Party, adding that these sites represent a massive missed opportunity.

Cllr Dan Boyle said: “The building that collapsed on North Main Street, at the heart of our city, is a very sad site. The only upside of the situation is that thankfully no one was hurt as the building collapsed.

“We are in the midst of a terrible housing crisis, and there are hundreds of unused properties that could be renovated, fixed up and turned into affordable social housing. The buildings that collapsed last week were on the Derelict Sites Register, and for buildings that are so central it’s simply unacceptable that they’re left to fall into this state.”

If a member of the public feels that a property may be derelict they can report it to Cork City Council. If a site qualifies as derelict, the City Council may serve a legal notice requiring works to be carried out, add the property to the Derelict Sites Register or even begin steps to acquire a property.