FARMEXIT - May 7th 2019

D-Day for UCC Farm

Tuesday May 7th 2019


View of entrance to UCC Farm

UPDATE: Thursday June 27th 2019

The May 7th deadline has come and gone, but Farm Users have been watching for anything that might concieveably be the beginning of the end.  The appearance of a small digger on Tuesday June 3rd was viewed with suspicion, especially when the small unit caused a fairly small subsidence close to the main gate. [The area, which can been seen in the photo below, has been enclosed and covered in white plastic has since then]

 Aerial view of Farm, and surrounds, taken on Wednesday June 4th [Note: Specially commissioned Cork Athletics flight...necessitating a flight to Faro ... LOL..I wish! ;) ]

On Wednesday 4th June, more activity took place, with percolation tests being carried out in the 'first field'.  Some machinery can be made out in the centre of the field. Unconfirmed reports suggest that an underground stream was found during the tests, but that the source could not be identified.

This morning, Thursday June 27th, further tests were being carried out. Unfortunately lunch-time for the test crew scuttled Cork Athletics intentions of 'Noseying' up to the crew, so 'suss out the ska'

Testing at UCC Farm, Thursday June 27th

New Planning Notice

UCC Farm Planning Notice

A new, revised planning notice, dated 30th May, has appeared on the railings at the Farm. There is a Five-Week Window for submissions, begining when the application was received by Cork County Council. It is assumed that this was on or after May 30th, as a copy of the notice was required to be submitted also.  This 5 week submission period will surely end tomorrow week, Friday July 5th, so anyone, or any group, must submit their concerns/observations by tomorrow week.

CORK COUNTY COUNCIL SITE NOTICE

We, University College Cork intend to apply for Permission For Development at:

UCC sports grounds, Curraheen, Ballinaspig More, Bishopstown, Co. Cork.

The development consists of:
The development of a Dental Building located at UCC sports grounds, Curraheen, Ballinaspig More, Bishopstown, Co. Cork. The development consists of the decommissioning of playing pitches within the site boundary and the construction of a dental hospital with ancillary education, research and innovation facilities, central sterile services department, roof top plant enclosure and support service areas, with 2 construction options.

Option 1 is for the construction of a part 4-storey, part 5-storey dental hospital building, with ancillary education, research and innovation facilities, central sterile services department, roof top plant enclosure and support service areas.

Option 2 is for the construction of a 5-storey dental hospital building, with ancillary education, research and innovation facilities, central sterile services department, roof top plant enclosure and support service areas. Both options will include associated access, carparking, parking kiosk, landscaping, ball fencing, signage and site development works.

The development also consists of alterations to the site layout, access and parking arrangements for the Health Innovation Hub which was permitted under Planning Register Ref. Nos. 18/4921 and 15/6689.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, County Hall, Carrigrohane Road, Cork during its public opening hours 9.00am - 4.00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application, and such submissions and observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may giant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

Agent: Orla O'Sullivan, McCutcheon Halley Planning Consultants, 6 Joyce House, Barrack Square, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Date of erection of site notice: 30 May 2019

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Original Post

Development work on the new Dental Hospital, the initial part of the Science and Technology Park location, on the grounds currently occupied by no less than ten (10) playing pitches, is set to commence on Tuesday May 7th 2019.

While UCC recently announced plans to develop a new Sports Facility further out, towards Curraheen, this facility is years away from completion....not even sure if the planning application has been submitted yet.  The Science and Technology Park has been in the pipeline for, literally, years, certainly long enough to develop and complete an alternative sports facility. Now, we are losing more green space - and sports facilities - from a city that is massively short of sports facilities.  It must be remembered that this area was originally a protected green belt in the Cork Area Development Plan. 

A line from Joni Mitchell's legendary 'Big Yellow Taxi' comes to mind...'They cut down all the trees and put them in a Tree Museum'. While our politicians complain about health issues such as obesity and lack of exercise among the general population, sports facilities are under threat all over the country. 

Would somebody please join the dots for these people!!!

 Leevale group training on the Farm - Photo: Gearóid Ó Laoi

Dental Hospital Development

Work will begin on May 7th, roughly in the area highlighted above, unfortunately the area closed off for development encompasses a far bigger area than the Dental Hospital facility footprint, are further areas must be available for materials, site offices, spoils, etc, site roads, along with security fencing. 

To make matters far worse, it has come to light that the entire UCC farm area is to be fenced off, (the red line in the image above shows the probable boundary).  The type of fencing already around a small section of the Farm, part of the rugby pitch, is to be used around the entire perimeter.

UCC Farm Fencing

There will still be access to much of the Farm, via a new entrance gate, however, as this will be locked during the times many runners and other members of the public currently use the Farm, it will be effectively be off-limits during those times.


It will be a sad day for Sport in Cork when the sod turns in a few short weeks

Cork County Council's Cork Science & Innovation Park Framework Masterplan (2011) - PDF File (144 Pages)

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Development Announcement Marks the End of an Era at UCC Farm