The improvements made to Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, under Phase 1 of its upgrade, are without doubt aesthetically pleasing, but same have failed to address the traffic congestion problems that currently plague this area. These past improvements and the proposed developments now suggested, under Phase 2, still have not gotten to the root of Liberty Square’s real needs; amongst them the much sought after ‘Ring Road’ that would take excess traffic out of this area.
In the absence of a ring road, it remains very difficult to enjoy this superficial upgrade to Liberty Square, when the majority of us associate it with the most frustrating of daily traffic jams.
If Phase 2 is accepted, traffic will most certainly bring the centre of Thurles town to a standstill, with a single lane now being proposed at the junction of Slievenamon Road and Liberty Square, same coming into use, continuously, by heavy goods vehicles (HGV’s). {See layout plan hereunder}. So too, with
Overall we found this report to be both contradictory, misleading and containing what appears to be a paste & copy job; e.g. quotes:-
** “The Thurles Liberty Square Phase 2 project will encourage compact growth by reducing congestion in the town centre and providing better pedestrian facilities, making Thurles a healthier and more liveable town.” Congestion has greatly increased since Phase 1 was implemented, resulting in, according to businesses, a reduction of 60% in footfall. The nitrogen dioxide produced by vehicle exhaust fumes has increased creating symptoms that are similar to ozone and sulphur dioxide due to constant traffic delays. The report has failed to supply any details of current air quality and has not commented on the smell of hydrogen sulphide being emitted through drains in this area.The report fails to recognise that buses double park on the northwest of Liberty Square, reducing this area to one lane of traffic and continue to promote this idiotic notion, instead of moving same to install two bus parking spaces on the west side.
**“The Thurles Liberty Square Phase 2 project provides better access to education services in Thurles, through the widening of footpaths around the main square and through the provision of a school zone.” One primary school drop down and pick up area exists on Liberty Square; operating from the car park behind the former Ulster Bank building, resulting in same area becoming a no-go area between the hours 2:00pm and 4:00pm, to those wishing to go shopping within the town centre.The provision of a School Zone is not immediately evident.
* * “Explore opportunities to maximise physical activity and recreational amenities in the natural environment. By providing dedicated facilities for walking and cycling, the Thurles Liberty Square Phase 2 project aims to create opportunities for physical activity and exercise for residents and visitors alike.” Where are the cycling lanes proposed?Over one year ago, Tipperary Co. Council removed the cycle lane previously provided on Clongower Road, same part of some €400,000 funding acquired by the said Council just 5 years ago. Dedicated facilities for walking on Liberty Square were always provided. Of the 19 Crome Bollard Bike Racks currently provided for use on Liberty Square, not one was found to be in use today.
* *“Ensure that the planning, development and design of towns, cities and schools promotes cycling and walking with the aim of delivering a network of cycle routes and footpaths.” “The aim of the Department of Health’s National Physical Activity Plan is to increase physical activity levels across the whole population, and the Plan sets separate targets for adults, children and older people to reach the recommended levels of physical activity”. Thurles town centre is a small rural town which required special planning, related directly to successful business and consumer satisfaction. People do not come into town centres to increase recommended levels of physical activity; for such, local residents use the Jimmy Doyle road etc.
View hereunder Tipperary Co. Council’s Part 8 Revised Planning Report, Phase2, latter updated in early July 2024, and prepared by AECOM.
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “The Liberty Square Phase 2 proposes the relocation of 12 car parking spaces from the central island car park. This is to be replaced to accommodate improved pedestrian crossing facilities across the square including upgraded controlled pedestrian crossings and a new footpath, with associated landscaping to improve public realm. Where possible this landscaping will include SuDS*, features such as rain-gardens. There are pedestrian crossings proposed to connect the central parking island to the north and south sides of the Square.“
*[ SuDS – Sustainable Drainage or SuDS is a way of managing rainfall that minimises the negative impacts on the quantity and quality of run-off whilst maximising the benefits of amenity and biodiversity for people and the environment],
Proposed Liberty Square West Layout (Phase 2).
“The crossing on the northern side of the central parking island is to be a controlled crossing and the crossing on the southern side is proposed to be a zebra crossing. These crossing will include tactile paving for visually impaired users.”
“The parking in the central island is being removed to reduce the number of pedestrian crossings to the island. This will in turn reduce the probably of a potential collision involving a pedestrian crossing to or from the car park.”
“In addition to the changes to the central island the scheme includes the widening of footpaths at Liberty Square on the south, west and northern sides. To accommodate this widening and the proposed crossings, the parking on these sides of the Square is to be reduced. The carriageway is being reduced to provide more space for pedestrians to navigate around the Square and to provide adequate space for the pedestrian crossings.”
“On the northern side of the square the taxi rank is to be replaced with a disabled parking bay, and a formal bus stop is to be put in place.”
“On the western side of the square there is to be the reduction from 5 to 3 spaces.”
“The southern side of the square will see a reduction from 7 spaces, including 1 disabled bay, to 3 spaces. The southern side of Liberty Square is proposed to be reduced from two lanes to one; to accommodate the zebra crossing. {See layout plan above}.”
Recently erected, new guardrails already struck by a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) attempting to manoeuvre Slievenamon Road corner, heading northwards.
“Slievenamon Road: An existing pedestrian crossing is located along Slievenamon Road approximately 20m from its junction with Liberty Square. This crossing is to remain in place, together with the existing guardrails, that are currently in place on either side of the road.”
“There are proposed raised uncontrolled pedestrian crossings across the junctions of Liberty Square and O’Donovan Rossa Street, Friar Street and Parnell Street. The crossings will include tactile paving for visually impaired pedestrians.” END.
Part 8 Phase 2 Liberty Square Public Realm Scheme.
Pursuant to the requirements of Part 8, Planning & Development Regulations 2001, as amended, Tipperary County Council hereby gives notice of their intention to carry out the following development:
Description: Phase 2 Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Public Realm Scheme, Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Liberty Square:
Widening of footpaths to provide an enhanced pedestrian environment and new high-quality paving
Raised uncontrolled pedestrian crossings across the junctions of Liberty Square and O’Donovan Rossa St, Friar St and Parnell St.
Controlled pedestrian crossings connecting the central parking island to the north and south side of Liberty Square.
Re-location of 12no. parking bays from the central island carpark located in Liberty Square and regularisation of parking around the perimeter to include a disabled parking bay and formalised bus stop.
Friar Street:
Minor alterations to include strategic buildouts and planting to provide an enhanced streetscape and compliance with DMURS.
Provision of high-quality paving to footpaths extending to Croke St junction from Liberty Square.
Parnell Street:
Provision of high-quality paving to footpaths extending to Hickeys Lane from Liberty Square.
Provision of raised table at the junction of Parnell St., Cuchulainn Road and Castle Av. including safe pedestrian crossing points, tightening of junction to prohibit right turning of HGV traffic onto Cuchulain Road.
Localised high-quality paving at the junction.
Enhanced NTA Safe Routes to School measures including raised zebra crossing in the vicinity of Scoil Ailbhe.
Cuchulain Road:
Provision to make Cuchulain Road a one-way system for traffic travelling east towards O’Donovan Rossa Street.
Widening of footpaths to provide a safe walking environment.
O’Donovan Rossa St:
Provision of raised table at the junction of Cuchulainn Road, Brittas Rd and O’Donovan Rossa Street including safe pedestrian crossing points.
Localised high-quality paving at the junction and to footpaths extending from Credit Union to Liberty Square.
Realignment of streetscape on existing two-way area (approx. 70m) to provide parking and dedicated provision buses.
Generally:
Resurfacing of carriageway.
Undergrounding of overhead services where possible.
Tree planting, landscaping and SUDS measures throughout the scheme.
The development has been the subject of an Appropriate Assessment screening in accordance with Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and Article 250(1) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. The Appropriate Assessment screening concluded that the proposed development would not be likely to give rise to significant or indeterminate impacts on any Natura 2000 site.
The proposed development is not of a class set out under Schedule 5 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, and does not require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Any person may, within 4 weeksfrom the date of this notice, apply to An Bord Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Plans and particulars of the proposed development, including Appropriate Assessment (AA), will be available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at: Thurles Municipal District Offices, Castle Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. [E41 KA44], from 9:30am until 4:30pm Monday to Friday from today Wednesday 17th July, 2024 until Friday 16th August, 2024 (excluding bank holidays).
Details of the proposed development are available online at www.tipperarycoco.ie. Details of the proposed development are also available at planning.localgov.ie.
On May 22rd 2024, Tipperary Co. Council announced, through a notice posted here on their website, that the bridge junction, crossing the river Suir, joining Cathedral Street, Emmett St and Liberty Square, [known locally as ‘Barry’s Bridge’ situated on route N75 east out of Thurles, town centre] would close nightly from 7:00pm until 5:00am, for an estimated 8 day period, beginning Monday, June 17th, until Tuesday, June 25th last.
In an email received by Thurles.Info in 2023, from the now retired Tipperary Co. Councils Chief Executive, Mr Joe MacGrath, this resurfacing work had been scheduled for May of 2023, and was already now over one year late.
According to the notice then posted, traffic was initially required to travel along the Mill Road into Littleton village first; then to the Horse & Jockey, before returning to Thurles via the N62; latter a distance of 21.7k (some 13.5 extra miles), instead of using the Archerstown route and onto the N62, close to the rear of Thurles Golf Club.
On June 25th, 2024 Tipperary County Council announced here on their website that they would extend the closure time of this same N75 Thurles Bridge upgrade. Same was to close nightly again, from 19:00hrs (7:00pm) until 05:00hrs (5.00am), from Thursday night, June 27th, 2024 (10 days later) until Friday morning, July 05th 2024 (again 8 days), in order to facilitate this same resurfacing works.
Fact: This work was satisfactorily completed in one night, including the necessary painting of grid lines on the yellow box junction which facilitates Emmett Street.
So it appears that a Computer Administrator, paid by the taxpayer, had been instructed to upload misleading information on two different occasions onto the Tipperary Co. Council website.
But, this is not the worst offence committed.
Tipperary Co. Council Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029.(See section 2.3 of latter link). “Identify sites for large scale native and mixed woodland planting and set targets for planting and maintaining native trees in urban and rural areas, to enhance carbon storage; biodiversity and landscape; air quality, and urban heat island mitigation.“
Prior to this truly one night resurfacing upgrade, signs had been erected, supposedly to accurately direct traffic. Some signs, however were totally misleading to motorists and all these signs broke the rules of basic responsible administration.
Sheet Metal Tech Screws used to attach diversion signs to trees. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Res non Verba (Deeds, not Words),
Note: 3 easy drive, flange, self-drilling, stitching screws, with washers, were used to attach each sign. Same stitching screws are normally used to drill into 4mm metal sheets.
The diversion signs have now been removed, as have the Sheet Metal Tech Screws, but just in the last few days.
Misleading diversion signs on Cathedral Street. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Three of the signs using these Sheet Metal Tech Screws were attached to 3 living trees, (two on the N62 near Thurles Golf Club and a third near ‘The Source’, opposite Thurles Cathedral on Cathedral Street in the town centre.)
The other plastic signs were attached to zinc coated signposts, with same screws which, no doubt, with the coating now removed, will encourage rust.
The ‘Diverted Traffic’ direction sign on the Cathedral Street Roundabout, diverted traffic directly unto Thurles Bridge, where this imaginary 8 nights of work was due to commence. A short distance further on, near ‘The Source’, some 60 metres from the area to be resurfaced, the sign read ‘End Detour’. Most resident motorists remain mystified as to these instructions then being offered.
The waste of taxpayers’ money and major incompetence 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.
The bridge will close nightly from 19:00hrs (7:00pm) until 05:00hrs (5.00am), from Thursday night next, June 27th, 2024 until Friday July 05th 2024 in order to facilitate the resurfacing works, which were first promised in May of 2023.
Alternative routes are identified as follows: Traffic attempting to progress eastward on the N75 towards Two-Mile-Borris will be diverted in Liberty Square central, before turning right, continuing on the N62 for approx. 2.5km, before turning left onto the L-4161 at Turtulla, Cross, (turning left at the T junction above Thurles Golf Club), then left onto the L-4157 Mill Road, to exit at the N75 roundabout east of Kickham Street.
Traffic attempting to progress westward on the N75 will be diverted at the afore mentioned Mill Road roundabout, onto the L-4157 Mill Road for approx. 2km, before turning right onto the L-4161 at Turtulla and turning right again, at the upcoming T- junction onto the N62, remaining on this road before entering unto Liberty Square to continue your onward journey.
This Mill Road is exceptionally narrow and traffic is warned to take great care.
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