DISRUPTION TO CORK-DUBLIN TRAFFIC THROUGH FERMOY IN NOVEMBER SLAMMED
The ongoing flood relief works in the town of Fermoy continue to cause their fair share of debate and this week, news that the main route through town is to be closed to a stop and go system to accommodate the ongoing work has been criticised by local businessman and councillor, Michael Hanley for what he claims are ‘all the right reasons’.
Mr Hanley was at pains to point out however, that he doesn’t want his well-known hostility to the nature of the present flood plan ‘to cloud his professional approach as an elected representative in dealing with the onward march of the environmental tragedy unfolding before our eyes’.
“For four months now I have sought to have a meeting arranged between the business community and the OPW to have a detail of the nature of these works explained. What has really driven me to go to the press about it is the indifference to a business community under severe stress in trying to manage businesses and trying to hold on in the present catastrophic climate,” he told The Avondhu this week.
He goes on to state that the elected representatives of Fermoy Town Council have effectively been fed dribs and drabs of the programme of work since it started, ‘and always after the fact’, he claims.
“The decision to close the Cork Dublin Road to a stop-go traffic system, effectively meaning one flow of traffic to the town for the full month of November is to me extremely disappointing for all the right reasons.
"To do this during the darkest month of the year, psychologically and physically, the month where the lead up for Christmas gets moving for the business community and the community in general, shows a complete lack of understanding in relation to how business functions and tries to survive.” Mr Hanley says he cannot understand why this decision cannot wait until the long evenings return next spring in view of the fact that the first phase of this plan is not due for completion until May 2010.
“I won’t even begin to comment on the failed bypass scenario, which I leave for another day. As for the absence of any debate for the Southern side of the river and how flood relief proposals would affect the community in general, that too is work for another day.”
Published:
Thursday 22nd October 7:07pm
