Works on East Cork garage yet to commence

Vital decommissioning work on disused fuel tanks on the main street of the East Cork village of Castlemartyr are still yet to be carried out, two months after the start date provided by the owner’s representatives.

On 7 May this year, the Cork Independent reported that fuel tanks on the site of the former Abernethy’s Garage had not been decommissioned 17 years after the station’s closure.

Following a request for comment on the original story sent to solicitors representing the company which owns the site - TW Abernethy & Sons Ltd - they confirmed that works were set to be carried out at the end of May 2026.

However, in a letter sent to the Cork Independent on 26 June, they confirmed that works had yet to be carried out.

“Our clients are fully dependent upon the various expert contractors in relation to their availability for commencement of the works in question and they presently await confirmation of the commencement for the said works,” they said.

On 7 July, Cork County Council confirmed that works have yet to be commenced.

“We understand that the contractor organised to carry out these remedial works is currently finishing another project and that they will then commence the remedial works in question.

“We are currently awaiting confirmation on a start date,” said a council spokesperson.

Abernethy’s Garage closed its doors in 2009. Complaints about the site have been received by Cork County Council since 2011.

A report by a fire officer from Cork County Council prepared in 2011 estimated that there were 9,500 gallons, or 43,300 litres of petrol in underground storage tanks on the site.

There is no record of the petrol having been removed.

Non-decommissioned tanks can pose a serious risk of explosion even if the petrol is removed, as petrol vapours which remain constitute an explosion risk.

A report by the Health and Safety Authority noted that explosions have taken place in tanks which have lain dormant for more than 30 years.

Under section 10 of the Retail and Private Petroleum Stores Regulations SI 311, 1979, the owner of underground petrol storage tanks must give 21 days’ notice to the licensing authority of their intention to stop using the tank.

They must also “take all practicable step…to render the tank immune from the risk of fire or explosion”.

Cllr Ann Marie Ahern (Fianna Fail) said the work must be carried out “expeditiously”, by a “specialised company” due to the complex nature of the process.

“Given the serious nature of the extraction of material including the tanks, residual fuel and vapours involved in this task, along with it being located on the busy thoroughfare of the Main Street, Castlemartyr …I hope that all parties concerned will ensure that the works are done as expeditiously as possible while ensuring the safety of the workers, residents, public, and passing vehicles,” she said.