Well between ourselves, this replacement did stop those awkward door stop questions, as our double jobbing local councillors moved from door to door, canvassing for votes. There was always the hope that they could be re-elected and continue to re-offend, while receiving their €35,000 plus, annual salaries for doing and achieving f..k all. And the voting public didn’t fail to fulfil their hopes and expectations. These same councillors would go on to draw back their lips in a show of amusement, with no evidence of any shyness, embarrassment, or shame, when all were once again re-elected, for another 5 years of indolence.
August 13th 2024: HGV re-designs Liberty Square’s 9 week old new safety railing. Pic: G. Willoughby.
Today, August 13th, just a mere 9 weeks later, not surprising, disaster has struck once again. The design of this new junction railing has been totally adjusted by an 18.75m heavy goods vehicle (HGV). (See image above). The driver was happy to leave behind the gift of a mudguard from one of his rear wheels.
It is interesting to note that according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), a large Tractor Cab is permitted to tow two trailers and exceed 18.75m in overall length, but NOT in any town with a population exceeding 10,000 people. Here in Thurles, on our medieval streets, we meet at least 4 x 22mHGV’s on a daily basis, due to the constant failure by two resident politicians to acquire funding for a ring road.
The population of Thurles, (according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in 2022), stands at 8,185 and since then we have welcomed Ukrainian families(62 x 2 bed modular homes built within the town), latter fleeing their war-torn land, together with a large number of International Protection (IPAS) residents of all nationalities, into our midst. Add also recent births since 2022, a few tourists resident in two hotels, a large number of students currently residing in accommodation in the town, while attending our two 3rd level institutions.
While each of these additional variables, inclusive of the official CSO population number of 8125, may not yet put the town directly in the category of 10,000 persons (not just yet), responsible and considerate mitigation and planning must now be set in motion, as we continue very soon to sprawl closer to this 10,000 person threshold.
Meanwhile, as I have stated on numerous occasions, the massive waste of taxpayer’s money by Tipperary Co. Council engineers and Thurles Municipal District officials/councillors and those they employ to do surveys, continues unabated.
Our eye in the sky has pictured two attempts to create extra parking spaces in Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, over the past number of days.
Yes, vehicles travelling westward, rushing to exit the centre of Liberty Square, Thurles, have collided with unused chrome bicycle racks/stands.
Local residents report that motorists became anxious to avoid the smell emitted from drains in the area. Sewer gas, causing this current stink, pervades the lower area of Liberty square; when temperature rise over 6°C, and once the wind remains blowing in a north easterly direction; the west end of town remains stench free. Same is possibly a mixture of inorganic gases created by the action of anaerobic bacteria emitted through the towns poorly and recently updated drain system, particularly on the east of the town’s square.
Interesting to note that the first underground sewage and drainage system in Thurles, which then operated stench free, was introduced on 2nd December 1846 in 5 undertakings, as shown hereunder and at a total cost of £1226.00.
To construct 42 perches of sewers from Richd Ryan’s to Derheen, cost £84.
To construct 96 perches of sewers from Danl Dwyer’s to the bridge, cost £192.
To construct 66 perches of sewers from Butler’s Gate to James Maher’s Yard, cost £132.
To construct 9 perches of sewer from the Barracks to the Main Street, cost £185.
To construct 66 perches of covered drain or sewer from the bridge to the turn of the Mall, with a tunnel under the river, and open a drain from the bridge in Thurles to Byrne’s Mill, with a tunnel under Drish River, to carry up the levels for the drains of the town, cost £800.
Hydrogen sulphide (also known as H2S, sewer gas, swamp gas, stink damp, and sour dam is a colourless gas, known for its pungent “rotten egg” odour at low concentrations. It is extremely flammable and highly toxic. It remains a secret as to whether Tipperary Co. Council or our Municipal District Council engineers have undertaken a gas identity safety check, in order to set residents and workers minds at ease. If Hydrogen sulphide is evident, same is rapidly absorbed by the lungs. Since Hydrogen sulphide is slightly heavier than air same may accumulate in enclosed, poorly ventilated, low-lying areas. Prolonged exposure to Hydrogen sulphide, even at relatively low levels, may result in respiratory tract irritation, painful dermatitis and burning eyes.
Note: If you do own a bicycle and you attempt to park same in a Thurles bicycle rack, make sure always to use a centre rack; (the outside racks are really crash bars).
Future layout planned for Friar Street Thurles, as stated on the Liberty Square, Thurles (Phase 2) proposal and prepared for Tipperary County Council by AECOM Ireland Limited.
Planning Map above showing most of Friar Street, Thurles, but excluding the street’s junction with Croke Street (south east side) and the Westgate junction joining the Liberty Square town centre.
4.1.3 Friar Street.
The existing conditions on Friar Street include narrow footpaths (1 – 2.4m) and two-way carriageway for the entire length of the road (carriageway widths ranging from 5 – 8.5m). There are two zebra crossings on this stretch of road. There is 155m of on-street pay and display parking.
Proposed layout for Friar Street.
“The proposed layout along Friar Street involves the construction of three build outs on the southern side of the carriageway. There is proposed planting in these buildouts to add to the streetscape. Two of these build outs are located beside junctions if side roads (?) in order to tighten the turning radius to comply with DMURS*. High end paving is proposed on both sides of the road between Liberty Square and Croke Street. The remainder of the layout on Friar Street is proposed to remain the same.”
*DMURS – Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets.
Note the quote above states“if side roads…” same should possibly read “of side roads…”, but then only one “side road” actually exists in the map area shown; same leading south into Croke Gardens car park, before exiting unto Croke Street.
A planning application by Tipperary County Council to install a footpath on the outskirts of Thurles, at Mill Road (formerly Manor Mill Road) was published last week.
Map of Proposed Footpath For Mill Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The footpath, according to these overdue published plans, will stretch over a distance of some 950 meters in length (3117.0 ft or 0.6 of a mile) with a width throughout of 1.8 meters (almost 6ft), linking from the end of the existing broken path, almost to the stone bridge crossing the Drish River close to Lady’s Well.
The planning application notes that the Mill Road is a narrow, winding, local road connecting both the N75 (If travelling northwards) and the N62 (If travelling southwards) and has more recently come into huge use particularly by heavy goods vehicle (HGV’s), in their attempt to speed-up their access to other national routes, thus avoiding the bottleneck that has totally destroyed the business centre of Thurles Town .
The planning application now published, for this narrow stretch of the Mill Road, (affectionately known to locals as ‘Fat Arse Boulevard’), is necessary so as to provide a safe walking area for pedestrians and those intent on partaking of physical exercise.
The plans for this footpath project are indeed to be welcomed and are now on display until August 23rd next at the Council offices at Mathew Avenue, Thurles, and indeed also available online HERE.
Nota Bene: When you do go online HERE, to examine these plans, scroll down to “Report of Particulars of Proposed Development.pdf” and click on download.
NextSee Site Description:“The Mill road connects the N75 to the north and the N62 via Archerstown to the south. While this is a local road it also serves as a ‘rat run’ for vehicles avoiding Thurles town, seeking to access the national routes and also access the N62 north of Thurles …….”.
Using their words above; here, in this above statement, is full acknowledged admission by Council officials; (namely Mr Thomas Duffy [Checker] and Ms Sharon Scully [Approver]), that Thurles town centre has been destroyed, from the point of view of the operation of local businesses, with major traffic now avoiding the Liberty Square area.
Then, before you, our readers, let out a high pitched maniacal cry; comes sadly, an even greater admission. Quote, “There are a number of housing estates located on the N75 side of the L-4001 Mill Road, which are served by a roadside pedestrian footpath (500m) and also a paved, pedestrian, walking route along ahistorical walking path (‘double ditch’), located some 500m off the N75. Extension of the existing footpath from the‘Double Ditch’access, extending to the Drish Bridge for approx. 950m.“
As our readers will be aware, this historical walking path (‘double ditch’), now menctioned twice in this application, according to local councillors and their officials, did not formerly exist previously and was conveniently never included in the Archaeological Impact Statement by F. Coyne BA MIAI, which was commissioned and paid for by Tipperary Co. Council, courtesy of Tipperary rate payer funding.
No, it is not a paved pedestrian walking route, it is now a route which was completely levelled and received only a temporary coating of tarmacadam. Sadly, today an area critical in the attraction of Tourism to Thurles, no longer exists, courtesy mainly of former FF councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin and his other council colleagues, following the decision to build a useless ‘Inner Relief Road‘ through this historic area, when, if ever, eventual funding can be found. Of course there is no reference to this ‘Inner Relief Road’, mentioned in this planning application.
It should also be noted: The council, in principal only, recently agree a price for the purchase of land west of this Mill Road, with which to deliver the aforementioned ‘Inner Relief Road’, and the late delivery of plans for this new footpath, is understood to have been now an agreed component of this same land deal where space for the footpath had been earlier refused, and which contrary to commitments given by TD Mr Jackie Cahill in a press release, (dated back in October 4th 2021), the project has not yet received government funding.
Meanwhile: Submissions to the proposed development can be made free of charge until 4:30pm on Friday August 6th.
To quote the words contained in Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem, Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field :- “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.”
Proposed Traffic Calming measures and footpath enhancements on N62 relating to O’Donovan Rossa Street, formerly ‘Pudding Lane’ or ‘Jail Street’.
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “The existing conditions on O’Donovan Rossa Street include footpaths with widths ranging from 0.7m at the intersection with Liberty Square to 5m outside the Courthouse. There are no pedestrian crossing facilities on this stretch of road*. 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 145m of on-street pay and display parking.
* Well actually there is one signalised pedestrian crossing on this road, positioned outside the Ursuline Convent, which our planners have failed to identify. Yes, it has a bent set of lights staring into the ground, which was reported 15 months ago, on April 30th, 2023, and which has not been repaired to this date, despite being used by students attending the two secondary schools in the area. See image hereunder.
Signalised pedestrian crossing not located by Thurles planners and accepted by Tipperary Co. Council.
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “Due to the high numbers of HGVs in the study area there are a number of safety concerns for pedestrians. The primary safety concern relates to the lack of pedestrian crossing between the central island car park and the footpaths on the periphery of the Square. This causes members of the public to jaywalk across two lanes of live traffic. This has led to a number of collisions and fatalities in recent years. There was a fatal collision on the northern side of the Square in Autumn 2023, involving a pedestrian being struck by an HGV. The presence of HGVs on narrow roads, particularly O’Donovan Rossa Street, is a risk to safety. Many areas have narrow footpaths, therefore when large spills of pedestrians occur, this can force pedestrians on to the road with live traffic. It is proposed to introduce a raised uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at the junction of Liberty Square and O’Donovan Ross Street. The crossing will include tactile paving for visually impaired pedestrians. North of this crossing, high end paving is proposed for the footpath surface on both sides of the street from the junction with Liberty Square to the Credit Union building. It is proposed to widen the western side footpath at various sections along the street. This would include significant widening of the footpath in front of the vehicular entrance to The Premier (Hall) and along the section between the Court House and the Fire Station, including the introduction of landscape areas. It is proposed to introduce a bus stop on the eastern side of the road in front of the fire station and a landscaped area between the Fire Station and the Court House. The landscaped areas will include SUDS* features such as rain gardens where possible. There is a proposed uncontrolled crossing located outside the courthouse”.
*[ 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].
Quoting from the AECOMreport: “It is proposed to limit traffic flow to a one-way system so there will be no Northbound traffic permitted beyond the junction with Cuchulain road.”
Quote from Phase 1 Report: “It is proposed to limit traffic flow to a one way, with no vehicles permitted entry to Cuchulain Road at the junction with O’Donovan Rossa Street.”
Locals will be aware of this folly and the bottleneck that will be caused when motorists exit Liberty Square into Parnell Street and turn into Cuchulain Road, (latter now proposed as one way), thenat the Cuchulain Road junction, joining O’Donovan Rossa Street, discover no Northbound traffic is permitted, before exiting once again unto Liberty Square, thus completing a full circle.
This will provide clarity that the street is now operating under a one-way system, eliminating confusion over the informal two-way system that the street currently operates under. This junction is proposed to have a raised table and corner radii tightened through the widening of footpaths at these corners. High end paving is proposed on the footpaths at this junction. These measures are proposed to provide a safer pedestrian experience trough wider footpaths and segregation from traffic through the use of landscaping. The formalised bus stop provides a safer location for passengers, particularly school children attending the schools on the R498 and Brittas Road, to alight while also not obstructing the flow of traffic. O’Donovan Rossa Steet also has proposed planting at the northern end of the scheme. These planted areas are identified for potential SuDS interventions, as they may be suitable rain garden locations similar to those proposed on Kickham Street as part of the N75 Improvement Scheme, subject to detailed design.
Along the western side of O’Donovan Rossa Street, 15m (50ft approx. or 4 car parking spaces) of on-street parking is being removed to allow for footpath widening and provision of SUDs measures.
Along the eastern side of O’Donovan Rossa Street, 4 car parking spaces are being removed to facilitate the introduction of a bus stop. With a 48 seater bus averaging in size of 12m (40ft approx.) and the 4 car parking spaces to be removed measuring 15m (50ft); one must ask where will the other 3 school buses serving the needs of the CBS secondary pupils now park.
In our report of July 22nd found HERE and entitled “Proposed Liberty Square Layout Phase 2”, our readers will be aware of a loss of 19 car parking spaces, including a Taxi Rank, under this new proposed, long overdue, Phase 2 upgrade. This 19 car parking spaces to be lost in Liberty Square, when added to the 21 car parking spaces, due to be axed on Parnell Street, and the latest 8 car parking spaces reported above on O’Donovan Rossa Street, we now calculate the removal in totalof 48 now lost/removed spaces. This figure calculated, immediately calls into question the figures supplied by the authors of this poorly prepared report, which they claim is a net gain of 30 spaces.[50-48 = 2]. Again where these extra promised 50 car parking spaces are be provided ‘northwest of the Liberty Square car park’ remains a secret to myself and to most other residents of Thurles. It has been suggested that an announcement by councillors of the purchase of a new field, ‘is currently being muted’.
Did Tipperary Co. Council actually pay for this planning report?
Recent Comments