We will of course be forwarding an email to Ms Scully again later tonight, seeking further assistance with regards to the next 100 metres of this town’s valued river Suir.
Pic (1) Despite two days with no rain, evidence of ground water continuously flowing from under the Leisure Centre. Note the plastic papers ready to exit, come the next downpour to push open the heavy drain lid. Pic (2, 3, 4) Supermarket Trolley’s which have remained in the River Suir for months.
What we would like is that Ms Scully would contact three of the local Supermarkets, latter backing unto the river Suir, asking that they remove their shopping trolleys from the water.
I know that Ms Scully will be anxious to observe this area herself, (after all seeing is believing), and so there are two other issues she might help us with, which are as follows:-
(1). Take a walk on now retired Mr S. Hanifin’s tarmac path from the ‘Swinging Gates’, on Emmet Street and examine the crater close to the now deceased Chestnut tree stump, same waiting for some pedestrian to fall into. (Yet another day out in Dirty Dublin, emerging for Tipperary Co. Council to visit the High Court, may still await.)
Pic (left) – Giant crater on riverside walk near Emmet Street ‘Swinging Gates’. Pic (right) – Some unknown liquid flowing into the river Suir from behind the future useless and yet unfunded ‘Thurles Inner Relief Road’.
(2). What is flowing into the river Suir from a drain at the area where the inner relief road will be built. (Look, it’s possible that it was someone just brushing their teeth). Sure you know the area that I am talking about, didn’t TD Mr Jackie Cahill get the money from government to buy and update this area way back in 2021, or was he joking. [See video HERE quickly, before someone teaches him how to remove it.]
The mandatory retirement age of prison officers has increased from 60 to 62, with effect from today.
The provisions which facilitate an increased mandatory retirement age for Gardaí will follow shortly, and, in the interim, the existing retirement age extension and retention arrangements in An Garda Síochána will continue to apply.
The increase is to the maximum retirement age, however people will still be able to continue to retire at 60, should they so wish.
These regulations were made possible by the enactment of Section 28 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 on July 17th 2024. This step amended section 8 of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 to provide that the acting Minister for Justice may (with the consent of the acting Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform) make regulations setting the mandatory retirement age of prisoner officers.
Note: The mandatory retirement age for firefighters and members of the Permanent Defence Forces has also increased from 60 to 62 with effect from today, August 19th 2024.
The Thurles Town Car Park, running parallel with Thurles Children’s Playground, Thurles Leisure Centre and Swimming pool, Thurles Library and Thurles Theatre, has now been closed to all motor vehicles.
This new Town Park car park, which was only upgraded and officially opened less than 8 years ago, is now once again to undergo a major upheaval. The new project is expected to make this area unavailable for public use for possibly the next 16 months, at a cost of €3.4 million in Rural Regeneration Funding, with little or no discussion or consultation entered into, with town residents or the local business community.
Sign attached on wooden background using possibly 2.5in cross head wood screws, fixed to a mature tree. Pic: G. Willoughby.
One of the signs indicating the car park closure is again screwed to a mature tree. We learned recently that earlier this year, Tipperary County Council hired a biodiversity officer, with a climate change officer already in place. At last month’s Thurles-Templemore District meeting, the District Engineer Mr Thomas Duffy and District Administrator Ms Sharon Scully said that from next year, there would be a proper biodiversity plan, so obviously no officials within Thurles Municipal District Council are in a position to request the contractor or other individual responsible, to remove the above sign until next year.
New Café.
Thurles Town’s 49 Space Car Park Now Closed. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Thurles Farmers Market, following their July 2nd meeting, have learned that the stone agricultural sheds first erected during the Great Famine years, are to be refurbished and expanded by means of a glazed extension. When completed same is expected to accommodate an 83 seater Café, for which an operator has yet to be located as a tenant. Same café will exist just some 100 metres away from yet another café style restaurant, run by Tipperary Co. Council, which remains closed, after several tenants vacated the space, same unable get a fair return on their initial investment. So we now will have two Café’s existing side by side, erected and paid for by taxpayers, for the financial benefit of Tipperary Co. Council; with both Café’s competing with other similar private rate paying businesses each struggling close-by.
New Market Quarter: This new now planned ‘Market Quarter’ will see a canopy erected over a section of this car park area, which will be modified to allow access to water and electricity at a number of service points, for future market days. The restructured area is expected to lose 16 car parking spaces, to already struggling businesses in the immediate area. The canopy, which will be cream in colour with no branding, cannot come lower than 4m from the ground due to the fact that cars are being parked under the canopy. The council says no trader or customer parking will be allowed under the canopy during Market events.
“The Source” Car Park, closed in 2020 continues to remain closed today (August 8th 2024). Pic: G. Willoughby.
“The Source” Car Park, funded through Rates paid by local business, has remained closed, since March 2020, due to malicious damage; today shows no visible effort being made to provide the much reduced and badly needed parking spaces, removed from Liberty Square, during Phase 1 of its upgrade.
On July 2nd last, 2024, members of Thurles Farmers Market had their first meeting, regarding the soon to be erected Thurles Market Quarter, same due to commence in an area close to Thurles Town Park. Those in attendance at this meeting included the Project Officer and the Market Quarter project designer.
Surprisingly, the contract for this Market Quarter project had already been signed; with construction work, we are informed, scheduled to begin next month, on August 6th. This new Town Park car park, which was only officially opened less than 8 years ago, is now again to undergo a major upheaval, with the new project expected to make this area unavailable for public use for the following 16 months, at a cost of €3.4 million in Rural Regeneration Funding, with little or no discussion or consultation with town residents or the business community.
Adding this project to the promised overdue upgrading of Liberty Square West and the overdue upgrading of Slievenamon Road, together with the traffic which will be generated by students returning to their various schools and the inability to find parking; businesses in the town square will surely trade with immense difficulty. People are now asking, what if any influence does Thurles Chamber of Commerce, the representative body for the business community in Thurles, have, regarding this matter?
NewThurles Town Park car park which was constructed, landscaped & opened just 8 years ago. Pic: G. Willoughby.
In 2020 the district Council had sought a letter of support for the project from Thurles Farmers Market which they confirm was provided. However, later in 2021 Thurles Farmers Market had sought further information in relation to the proposed trading area and had expected to meet with the designers, prior to sanction of this project, but this meeting had never materialised.
New Café. Thurles Farmers Market, following their July 2nd meeting, have learned that the stone agricultural out building first erected in the great famine years, are to be refurbished and expanded by means of a glazed extension. When completed same is expected to accommodate an 83 seater café, for which an operator has yet to be located as a tenant. The building had been sought for leasing from the Co. Council, by the Thurles Famine Museum, prior to the latters forced closure by the local C of I Community, however, the request was found unsuitable by Thurles Municipal District Council officials. However, interesting to note that some 100 metres away yet another café style restaurant, run by the same Co. Council, remains closed, after several tenants vacated the space, same unable get a fair return on their initial investment.
The Market Quarter. The ‘Market Quarter’ itself will see a canopy erected over a section of this car park area which will be modified to allow access to water and electricity at a number of service points for future market days. The restructured area is expected to lose 16 car parking spaces to struggling businesses in the immediate area. The canopy, which will be cream in colour with no branding, cannot come lower than 4m from the ground due to the fact that cars are being parked under the canopy. The council says no trader or customer parking will be allowed under the canopy during Market events.
We learn Thurles Farmers Market are to be given some storage space, under the stairs, in this soon to be refurbished café, which again will be controlled by Tipperary Co. Council.
Now, with few spaces guaranteed available to park a motor vehicle, Thurles will surely be obliterated.
The ambiguity and inexactness start HERE. “The Town Centre First Plan will be driven by the local community and businesses.” Could this €3.4 million Rural Regeneration Funding not have been more wisely spent, e.g. the purchase of the now derelict eyesore, that is the Munster Hotel, Cathedral Street, demolished to provide accommodation for 3rd level students, attending our two 3rd level collages. One must ask; did any of our local councillors or their officials ever visit the Garden Centre, Restaurant & Farmer’s Market, known as Solas, situated on the Dublin Road, out of Portarlington, Co. Laois.
Note: No expensive giant umbrella here. These many trading stalls are made from attractive shipping containers where Traders can store their own produce etc, in each container when trading finishes. Imagine the air of contentment experienced here, when shopping, with free parking, (no €1.20 for limited parking here, that’s if you can find parking.).
Imagine the number of such containers you could purchase, using Rural Regeneration Funding of €3.4 million and the employment generated, not to mention the benefits gained through creating sustainable rural development and much needed countryside resurgence.
The waste of taxpayer funding by Tipperary Co. Council, assisted by the government, continues.
“The Town Centre First (TCF) policy aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.” – See Town Centre First.
We learn this morning that the major upgrade of the N75, (Kickham Street), latter the main entry and exit route into and out of Thurles town (See Images) will now not go to tender, due to a lack of funding for the project from Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
To refresh our readers memories regarding this ongoing saga, please View Here and also View Here.
Meanwhile, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, other new serious concerns are being expressed by Thurles residents and local businesses, regarding the removal of parking spaces from within the Thurles town central area, due to a number of recent public announcements, none of which are being communicated by recently elected local representatives or Tipperary Co. Council officials.
The commitment that “The Town Centre First Plan will be driven by the local community and businesses as part of a Town Team, who will be supported by Town Regeneration Officers and technical expertise within each Local Authority”, appears to have been totally disregarded by council officials. See Town Centre First.
The announcements, raising such concerns, are emanating from Thurles Leisure Centre, and are as follows:
Tipperary County Council intend to now close the 49 space car park established in Thurles Town Park, beside The Source building, latter positioned at the entrance to Cathedral Street, with effect from August 6th 2024, until December 2025, (16 months). Same closure is to effect the installation of a canopy over the existing car park area, thus creating an event space and also to refurbish an existing Great Famine era farm shed, into an 83 seater restaurant with glass facade café. Under this completed development it is planned to remove 16 car parking spaces from this area.
The Department of Rural and Community Development approved funding of over €3 million for this Thurles Market Quarter Project, with undeclared substantial match funding element also provided by the taxpayer through Tipperary County Council.
Problems arose last December with regards to the leasing by Tipperary Co. Council, of the 100 space car park, behind the now derelict Thurles Munster Hotel, Cathedral Street, owned by Mr Martin Healy. Although it was announced on TippFM radio on March 5th, that a 12 month deal had been agreed between the owner and Tipperary Co. Council; the Council and the property owner are now believed to have failed to agree any such new leasing agreement, leaving any future ongoing access to this car park in doubt and uncertain from next September. People will also be aware that present management at the Mary Immaculate College (formerly St Patrick’s College), as is their right, no longer allow parking on the College avenue and grounds.
With 60% of parking removed from Liberty Square in the past 3 years; as many as 19 other car parking spaces are expected to be removed from the west end of Liberty Square, if and when work begins on that same long drawn out project, first begun on August 17th, 2020.
Some 40 car parking spaces are expected to be removed with the expected upgrade to take place on Slievenamon Road (N62), between Liberty Square and Thurles Shopping Centre Roundabout.
The car park provision, underneath ‘The Source’ building, has remained closed for the past number of years due to anti-social behaviour, which saw the low uncovered ceiling insulation torn down by idle hands, resulting in same being set alight, causing a small fire at this location, back in October of 2023. Both car parks within this immediate area, were intended for use by patrons of ‘The Source’ Arts Centre, including Thurles Library, the Thurles Town Park children’s play area, the Thurles Leisure Centre, local businesses and those attending daily religious services, in the nearby Cathedral of the Assumption on Cathedral Street, in the town.
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