Within days of it being established, a new but controversial bus stop on the Cork road in Fermoy is to be moved again.

Members of the public took to social media forums locally to make their strong criticism known after seeing the markings for the new bus stop. "Downright dangerous" one woman told The Avondhu. "Sheer lunacy" said another. "Looks like an accident waiting to happen," a third commented.

As our photographs show, the new bus stop was established coming out of a left hand bend on the incline across the road from the Famine Wall in Fermoy. Serious concerns were expressed about the potential for a crash with locals fearing that any bus stopping there to take on passengers was highly likely to be rear-ended by vehicles coming around the corner and up the incline.

At the very least it was considered that the new stop would cause serious congestion as outbound traffic manouevred around it.

Local councillors felt the backlash from the public and were quick to point out that the decision to position the bus stop there, moving it from further up the Cork road, was not made by them.

Mayor Olive Corcoran said: "What I don't understand is how Gardai agreed. I would have thought it would be illegal.

"It's a total waste of taxpayer's money again. It's appalling."

County councillor Noel McCarthy and town councillor Tadhg O'Donovan had campaigned for some time to have the bus stop moved. They were acting on foot of long-standing complaints from residents where the bus stop was previously positioned. It's understood they alleged school students were being a nuisance, sitting on their window ledges while waiting for the bus, restricting access to their houses and being abusive when challenged. There's also an allegation of a window being broken in a house by youngsters messing while waiting for the bus.

"Right decision, wrong location," Cllr O'Donovan said. He pointed out that he and his Labour party colleague had wanted it to go further up the road where the bus shelter is. Cllr McCarthy said he was as taken aback as anyone to see the new location and shared locals' concerns. It was 'absolutely the wrong location', he insisted.

The Avondhu contacted Bus Eireann about the matter and was told that the bus stop was installed by Cork County Council and An Garda Siochana. Following communications, their press officer advised, a request was made by the Gardai, Cork County Council and the Town Council to move it again and a new schedule date is awaited for another new bus stop.

One woman on Facebook likened it to what happened at Grattan Terrace in Fermoy last year when two lanes were marked out on a narrow stretch of the road, leaving the outer, turning lane tapered into a point less than half the width of a car. Those road markings were subsequently burned off. Those who were vocal in their criticism of the new bus stop location this week pointed to the expense the council had incurred establishing a bus stop at a location that was clearly unsafe.

Local man Joe Tobin was among those outspoken in his criticism of where the new bus stop was located, telling The Avondhu of his disbelief when he saw it. "It's downright dangerous" he said, "and a waste of money."

What people said:

"It's a total joke".

"Only in Fermoy will they put a bus stop in the middle of a bend on a hill".

"It'll be a disaster! It's a blind corner as it is and the traffic is supposed to break off into two lanes there and it was tight enough without a bus stop!"

"Would love to know if this was decided using a map of the town, a blindfold and a pin...that is the only reason I could think why the busy stop was put there".

"It's a disaster waiting to happen".

"Imagine the chaos at weekends. It's bad enough with parking for Mass".

"There will be a crash there. Who voted for this?"

"It's unbelievable".

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