Proposed Parnell Street & Cúchulainn Road Layout In Thurles.

View hereunder yet another section of Tipperary Co. Council’s Part 8 Revised Planning Report, Phase 2, latter updated in early July 2024, and prepared by AECOM.

Readers shocked by the proposed plans for Phase 2 of the Liberty Square Layout, best sit down, as a further shock is imminent.

Quoting from the AECOM report:

Parnell Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Quotes are taken exactly as stated on the Phase 2 Report: “The existing conditions on Parnell Street footpaths, with widths ranging from 0.7m at the intersection with Liberty Square to 5m just south of the intersection with Castle Avenue. There is one signalised pedestrian crossing along the street located at the entrance to the Credit Union car park. The carriageway ranges in width from 5m – 7m, and the road changes from two-way to one-way at an unmarked location outside the Courthouse. There is 144m of on-street pay and display parking.”

Note: Here the engineers; writers of this report, have confused Parnell Street with O’Donovan Rossa Street, as there is no Courthouse on Parnell Street in Thurles, unless it moved last night.
The reference to the ‘Credit Union car park’ rather than the ‘Parnell Street car park’ leaves the reader wondering if planners visited Thurles at all, and did Tipperary Co. Council staff/officials actually fail to read the report in full, on receipt, hence failing to return same for correction and a badly needed spell check, before allowing it to be made available for public reading.

Note also: The ‘signalised pedestrian crossing‘ referred in above report is in fact a ‘pedestrian light controlled crossing’ or ‘a Pelican crossing’, thus differentiating it from a ‘Zebra crossing’, existing further up this same street, outside Scoil Ailbe, shrouded for years with tree branches.

See image above, which also includes a school sign close to the railway bridge, no longer warning oncoming traffic of the primary school’s existence, which we had asked the Thurles Municipal District to rectify back in mid-January 2022. See video hereunder dated January 16th, 2022.

Parnell Street (formerly New Street) continued.

Quote from Phase 2 Report: “The proposed layout of Parnell Street remains largely unchanged from the existing conditions. High end paving is proposed on both footpaths between Liberty Square and Hikeys Lane. The footpaths are to be widened towards, the junction with Cúchulainn Road to comply with DMURS*.

* DMURS – Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.

“This is to accommodate the proposed uncontrolled pedestrian crossings across the western, eastern and southern arms. These crossing are proposed to have tactile paving for visually impaired pedestrians.
The junction of Parnell Street, Cúchulainn Road and Castle Avenue is proposed to have a raised table and the corners tightened through the widening of the footpaths at these corners to comply with DMURS.
High end paving is proposed on the footpaths at this junction.”
“North of this junction a School Zone is proposed outside of Scoil Ailbhe. This will include NTA Safe Routes to School markings, to make drivers aware of the presence of school children. There is also a raised zebra crossing proposed in this location, to provide a controlled crossing facility for pedestrians to enhance pedestrian safety.”
“The widening of footpaths and provision of clearly marked pedestrian crossings are essential in providing safe, accessible and continuous links for pedestrians, in particular children attending the various schools in the area. Additionally, introducing tightened corners and raised tables will reduce vehicle speeds and increase visibility for drivers, creating a safer environment for pedestrians.”

Cúchulainn Road (formerly Nicholas Street).

Quote from Phase 1 Report: “It is proposed to limit traffic flow to one way, with no vehicles permitted entry to Cuchulain Road at the junction with O’Donovan Rossa Street.

This proposed measure will enable the widening of footpaths on both sides along the length of the road. The widening of footpaths along this section provides safer facilities for pedestrians, particularly school children attending the schools located on both the R498 and Brittas Road, to navigate this area.
Raised tables with buildouts to tighten corner radii are proposed for the junctions at either end of the road. At these junction’s high end paving is proposed for the footpaths.”

These proposed changes will now see all southbound traffic forced to exit left unto an already congested Liberty Square. We see already vehicles, in an attempt to avoid the town centre, travelling northwards on the N62, before turning right onto the extremely narrow Rossestown Road, to again emerge on the east side of Thurles via the Bohernamona Road.
This proposed change is suggested despite this Phase 2 Report acknowledging; Quote “The National Road N62 goes through Liberty Square is a significant artery in the Tipperary road network and further afield, connecting Athlone with the M8 motorway. Traffic flow though Thurles town centre will therefore be maintained as it is key to the economy of the region.“

Tipperary County Council is required to make full plans and particulars of this proposed development available for inspection. Same will be made available at the Thurles Municipal District Office, Civic Offices, Castle Avenue, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (E41 KA44).

Remember: Public consultation is a fundamental element of the ‘Part 8’ planning application process. After the expiration of the period during which submissions may be made, a report is then presented to the members of the Council. This report will contain a summary of the issues raised and the Chief Executive’s response. This report will recommend whether or not the proposed development should be proceeded with as proposed, or recommend necessary changes.

Has anyone read the Thurles Town Centre Masterplan Proposals found HERE.