Hopes of a resolution to the ongoing problem regarding the poor state of the street and footpaths in Buttevant were dashed with the news this week that the National Roads Authority has turned down a request for funding for the remedial works which were estimated by Cork County council to cost in the region of €3.5 million.
This year the NRA allocated €50,000 to Cork County Council to draw up a plan for the works for the town, and while the Council had completed that work and had plans in place for the project, it is to be put on hold following this week’s revelation.
The local Community Council, which has been spearheading a campaign for the works to be carried out, was advised by email from the NRA this week that the necessary resour-ces would not be forth-coming. It read: “Having regard to the funding position, there are no resources available to the Authority in 2014 to enable route improvement sch-emes to be undertaken on the network, apart from projects that are being financed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding mechanism.”
There have been over 20 personal injuries to resi-dents and commuters using the main street and foot-paths in the past year. The injuries have ranged from bruises and cuts to broken bones and hospitalisation.
A spokesperson for Butte-vant Community Council told the Vale Star this week that the Council will meet in the coming week to discuss a proposed plan of action resulting from this rejection.