Have your say – ‘Cork City Centre Movement Strategy:’
Cork City Council has commissioned ARUP/MVA Consultancy to undertake a review of the existing traffic management system in the city centre and to develop a new City Centre Movement Strategy (CCMS).
Some changes proposed in the strategy include:
- Restricted vehicular access to Patrick St during the day, except to public transport
- Changing MacCurtain Street into a two-way system
- One North-Bound and two South-Bound lanes on Brian Boru Bridge
As any changes to the existing city-centre traffic management system are likely to impact on businesses in the city, Cork Chamber is currently preparing a submission on the draft strategy and is keen to incorporate your feedback/comments into our submission and recommendations.
Could all members who have comments/feedback on the proposed strategy, please contact Siobhan Bradley by email: siobhan.bradley@corkchamber.ie or phone (021) 4531032 no later than Friday, 22nd February at 5pm.
For further background information on the CCMS and draft maps of the proposed changes, please visit www.corkchamber.ie/yourviews.cfm
Transition Year Awards 2013 Launched:
Cork Chamber and University College Cork’s College of Business & Law have launched the annual Transition Year Business Awards for 2013. This year’s awards, kindly sponsored by Bank of New York Mellon, will focus on ‘Innovation in Action.’
Ongoing supports and initiatives from businesses in education is key to instilling a greater interest and awareness of a future career in entrepreneurship amongst young people and the TY Awards aim to play a key role in encouraging and supporting young entrepreneurs in Ireland.
To apply for the awards, Transition Year students must submit a 1,500 word project based on their experience with their Mini Company/Enterprise. Projects must demonstrate ‘Innovation in Action’ by:
- Showing creative and original ideas
- Telling the story of how their business developed
- Showing how their business impacts on job creation
The prize for this year’s winning team is €1,000 for their school and €500 and €250 for those schools in second and third place.
Last year’s competition was won by the Maria Immaculata Community College School, Co. Cork for their project ‘Spic and Span.’ The winners were subsequently invited to perform a ‘live demonstration sales pitch’ of their project direct from the IBM technology truck into the conference room during the Chamber’s Annual Conference.
The closing date for entries is 22nd March 2013 with the prize-giving ceremony taking place in UCC on Tuesday 23rd April.
Further information is available here.
Mix Your Mode:
Monday 18th February saw the launch of the ‘Mix Your Mode’ campaign promoting the use of more sustainable modes of transport in March. The Project, funded by the European Commission and delivered by Cork Environmental Forum aims to encourage travel by more sustainable and healthier methods such as walking, cycling, using public transport and the use of Go Cars in the city centre. Cork Chamber is a partner organisation to this initiative alongside other key stakeholders in Cork including Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Red Fm, UCC, CIT. Due to take place during the first three weeks of March, the campaign will target different areas as follows:
- Schools & Colleges: 4th – 10th March
- Workplaces: 11th – 17th March
- Shopping & Leisure Activities: 18th – 24th March
It is hoped that by engaging in this initiative people will become more aware of the journeys they make and of the different services available to them e.g. integrated rail and bus ticketing and the tax incentives these provide. By encouraging a change in behaviour patterns, emissions and traffic congestion can be reduced and improve the environment in the city centre.
Further information is available here.