Demands for green spaces ‘not willing to die’

The redevelopment of Bishop Lucey Park in Cork city has left a lot of people a "bit confused", a local councillor has said.

Green Party councillor and former lord mayor, Dan Boyle has been calling for more green areas in Cork city for years.

The South-Central representative recently backed an online petition calling on Cork City Council to purchase the long-neglected former tax office site on Sullivan’s Quay and turn it into a public green space.

“I think people getting together and making these kinds of demands can only be a good thing,” said Cllr Boyle.

“It's certainly an idea that's not willing to die, at least not quietly,” he added.

At the time of writing, the petition has gathered close to 500 signatures calling for a repurposing of the site which has remained dormant since the former tax office building was demolished in 2018.

Cllr Boyle said he is encouraged to see more and more people getting behind the idea and called on the site’s owners, developers BAM Ireland, to donate the site to the city.

He said: “It's owned by a company who I think would be doing the city a lot more credit by donating the site. They had a five year planning permission for a hotel that they never proceeded with.

“Having a site unused and under a cloud of uncertainty is not what the city needs.

“It's a key location. It could be put to more beneficial use,” added Cllr Boyle.

His comments follow the notably lukewarm public reaction to the newly redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park which was reopened in November. Specifically, a significant reduction in green space and trees in the park has been the focus of some public criticism.

Cllr Boyle continued: “The Bishop Lucey Park development is something that has left a lot of people a bit confused. Some of us have always had misgivings about the reduction in green space and trees.

“One of the criticisms of Bishop Lucey Park is that there are no play facilities for children. The Sullivan's Quay site would offer opportunities for that.”

Concerning the potential cost of such a project, Cllr Boyle said the real cost would lie within the maintenance of the green area as opposed to its development.

He said: “I think to develop an area wouldn't cost that much. You'd bring in topsoil or use the original soil there and remove whatever's left of the concrete in the area and plant it and landscape it. I wouldn't see that being a hugely expensive cost.”

The petition, titled 'Turn the O Sullivans Quay derelict site into the only city centre public park' can be found on the website change.org.