Cork County Council’s senior area engineer Brendan O’Gorman, moved this week to clarify his proposals in relation to the removal of the diagonal road at King’s Square in Mitchelstown.

“My sole intention is to remove the through road to vehicular traffic, thereby giving back this area to the residents of the square and also the provision of a safe pedestrian public walkway – there is no footpath presently. From a design viewpoint we are still looking at the alternate route,” he explained.

Any proposals will be via a Part 8 Planning Application, to commence within a few months, he advised. Part 8 allows for full public consultation ahead of any development.

“I have no input or desire to get involved in any future plans for the area, save for these roads operation proposals,” the engineer pointed out. “The removal of the through road gives an opportunity for local residents/community/voluntary events in this beautiful green area.

“Certainly there’s no intention to create a new market area in the square, we already have a permanent one on a Thursday in our public square,” he emphasised.

The proposal is a recommendation from the approved traffic management plan for the town.