Call to develop master plan for Passage west

Thursday, 20 May 2021 11:23

Cork County Council is being urged to develop a master plan for Passage West up to and including a compulsory purchase order for the docks.

The call from Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O'Laoghaire comes as the Council returned a grant of almost €1.9m for the proposed redevelopment of the docks at Passage West.

The funding was granted to the Council in November 2018 and was allocated to buy the eight-acre site for a regeneration scheme that would see the docks become a modern waterfront settlement overlooking the harbour.

The plans however suffered a setback in early 2019 when the dockyard was taken off the market and it's now been confirmed that the Council are no longer proceeding with the proposal for Passage West.

Speaking to RedFM News Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire says the dockyard is central to the future of Passage West opening it up onto the water.

"What needs to be clarified is whether they held on to any money to try and ensure that planning for this site was progressed.

"As far as I'm concerned we can't give up on this. I believe that we need to be putting forward a masterplan for the site, and if it comes to that point the council should be looking at a compulsory purchase order.

"But it is essential to the redevelopment of the town, and we do need to keep focussed on it."