The addition of new road markings in Fermoy was amongst the list of immediate activities being undertaken by Cork County Council teams this week, as Town Teams across the county ramp up their efforts to support communities and businesses in preparation for the lifting of some restrictions imposed due to the ongoing pandemic.
In what has been an extremely difficult time for many businesses, their reopening will provide the community with a real opportunity to support their local retailers.
Under the current government roadmap, small retail outlets are set to reopen on the basis that the retailer can control the number of individuals that staff and customers interact with at any one time.
Project ‘ACT’ is being run across Cork County Council’s eight municipal districts with the support of elected members.
A fund worth €6 million has been committed to support community, festival, events and town enhancement works in the weeks and months ahead.
Each of the Town Teams has reported extremely positive engagement from the local community, which is being reflected in an ambitious programme of works in the weeks ahead. Mitchelstown and Fermoy are amongst the 23 towns which will receive improvement works throughout the county.
In preparation for the phased return of business and community life, the Town Teams have been working to introduce specific enhanced physical distancing and pedestrian friendly zones across the county.
This will include the inclusion of additional footpath space, some changes to traffic flow and outdoor supports for businesses requiring socially distanced queueing. The intention is for every town and village in County Cork to benefit from the initiative.
In Mitchelstown, improvement works have also continued as part of the Age Friendly grants scheme on several stretches of footpaths, which will further aid the elderly and infirm to move about safely.
Some other works undertaken in the county include footpath de-cluttering in Kinsale and Skibbereen; Planting of flowerbeds in Cobh; Street cleaning in Kanturk and sign restoration in Dunmanway.
Supports for vulnerable people and the over 70s are being integrated into the heart of these plans though the Older Person’s Council CARE Programme.
Specific measures are being introduced to enable these valued citizens to safely return to their full and active role in daily life.
