Cornmarket Street Market (The Coal Quay) – gap left by stall removed following complaint from owners of “super pub”
Cork Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan has strongly criticised the City Council’s removal of a modern trading stall from the historic Coal Quay market saying the decision was inexplicable and contrary to the council’s planned regeneration of the market.
Cllr. Tynan said he was shocked to read of the decision in a newspaper article and said elected representatives should have been consulted on the matter. He said: “Just over a week ago an article appeared in the Irish Examiner reporting the objection of a local business to the location of market stalls. Now we have learned, through the same paper, that a stall adjacent to this business has been removed. I want to know why one business could veto the City Council’s markets strategy without recourse to the elected councillors”, he stated.
The Workers’ Party councillor said that the unilateral decision by senior management at City Hall to remove the stall set a dangerous precedent which “may spur other businesses to seek the same concession”. He said, “The regeneration of the Coal Quay market is part of a multi-million euro investment by Cork City Council and implements much of the Cornmarket Street Area Action Plan. It is deeply disturbing that the management team could drive a coach and horses through that plan in response to intensive lobbying by one individual.”, said Cllr. Tynan.
Cllr. Tynan on public footpath outside the Bodega. The “super pub” is built in the former St. Peter’s Market, designed specifically as a market. It’s owner demanded the removal of a market stall and this was done within a week of receiving publicity.
He called on Cork City Council to reinstate the market stall to its former position and to uphold the objectives of the Cornmarket Street regeneration plan. “The City Council has been rejecting or stalling applications from some potential traders for Coal Quay stall licences even though the individuals in question meet the criteria laid out in the plans. It is time for the City Council to implement and expedite this plan and ensure the vibrancy and viability of the Coal Quay Market”, Cllr. Tynan stated.
It is now 12 years since Cork City Council agreed a €4 million Cornmarket Street Area Action Plan which includes the regeneration of the Coal Quay Street Market. For whatever reason this plan has not been fully implemented. “It seems Cork City Council would rather leave stalls empty than make them affordable and allocate them to potential traders. I have already spoken to potential traders who have been stonewalled by City Council while stalls remain empty. Meanwhile business owners who have arrived on the street in recent years have been able to dictate terms to the City Council and have the Market Strategy torn up to their advantage.
Early 20th century view of the “Coal Quay” market (Cornmarket Street), Cork showing St. Peter’s Market on left. Photo: Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland via corkpastandpresent.ie