Planning « Thurles Information

Aldi Thurles Co. Tipperary Launches Exciting New Winter Attraction.

Thurles Aldi launches exciting new winter attraction; “Aldi-on-Sea”.

Delighted to see the Thurles Aldi carpark has once again been transformed into a seasonal water feature. Since 2023, it’s become a reliable annual tradition: you arrive for milk and end up needing a canoe.

And no, Storm Chandra had nothing to do with it; Tipperary for the most part escaped the major flooding experienced on the east coast.
(But maybe Aldi Ltd, could apply for humanitarian emergency aid funding which was limited to €5,000 and now increased up to €100,000, because Co. Councils down the years successfully failed to maintain our clogged river channels, thus reducing water flow and capacity).

***Sunlit and glass-still; Thurles’ Aldi “water feature” waits, like a love letter, for pintail ducks, whooper swans, and even the odd escaped feral mink***.

A few helpful customer updates:

Trolleys now come with a complimentary reflection for your Instagram.
Parking bays are “first come, first served” and float-tested.
Shoppers are advised to wear wellies, or at least bring a lifebuoy.

All jokes aside: this happens every winter. It’s not a “once-off”, it’s a recurring problem that needs a proper fix. People shouldn’t have to dodge puddles the size of Liberty Square, in an effort to purchase a loaf of bread.

So, any chance we could upgrade from ‘Seasonal Lagoon‘ to ‘Normal Carpark‘ before winter 2027?

Seriously, following my complaints sent initially to Aldi Stores Ltd, I discovered an email waiting on my computer this morning. Same Read:-

Hi George, (Yes, we’re practically pen pals at this stage).
Thanks so much for your patience.
I can confirm the Area Manager has advised that the work for the car park had to wait for adjacent work to be completed first, organised via the local council. This was completed prior to the festive break. (Xmas 2026)
They have confirmed that as a result, the work on the car park to fix appropriate drainage systems is scheduled to be completed by the end of February, (Which February remains unclear).
If there is anything else we can assist you with, please don’t hesitate to reach back out.
Thanks again for reaching out to us.
Best wishes, …………

My reply:
Madam:
This flooding has been a recurring winter issue since at least 2023.
It is particularly difficult to understand the continued problem at the main entrance area where the public drains are almost one metre lower than the Aldi site level itself.
With that level difference at the point of outfall, it raises an obvious question as to why a lasting drainage solution was not implemented earlier, rather than allowing the same disruption to customers repeat itself year after year.

Your reply now begs the question, has your anonymous ‘Area Manager’ ever visited Aldi Thurles, since at least 2023 and have staff not repeatedly reported the issue year after year?
Has this problem in Thurles not been reflected in Aldi Thurles branch profits?
I find the explanation by your area manager both condescending and disappointing.
Yours sincerely…………

Obviously Municipal District Officials and local elected Councillors don’t shop there, although Aldi are the only stockists of Ice Cream in Thurles Town, which containing no risky additives, less water and skim milk powder.

Not Storm Chandra – Just Cabragh Road, Thurles As Usual.

Thurles’ Daily Soaking Service Continues As Blocked Drain Turns Footpath into Splash Zone.

Residents and pedestrians using the Cabragh Road (Thurles town side of the old Sugar Factory site), report that roadside flooding over the past number of days is not a once-off weather emergency linked to Storm Chandra, but an everyday, repeat-performance hazard, caused by a blocked drain.

While Storm Chandra is a real named storm in the current naming cycle, with Met Éireann issuing commentary on its impacts nationally, locals say the Cabragh Road situation is far more reliable: it doesn’t need a storm, a warning, or even a stiff breeze to deliver ankle-deep water and a full-body rinse to anyone on the footpath.

**Photo shows standing water across Cabragh Road with surface flooding consistent with inadequate drainage.**

According to residents, the scene is depressingly familiar; cars, vans and artic trucks pass, water sheets across the road on both sides and pedestrians get soaked “to say the least”, simply for attempting to walk on a public footpath.

“First we’ve heard of it”, again.
Members of the public say they have contacted the local authority repeatedly, only to receive the now-classic response: “Thank you for calling, this is the first we’ve heard of this, and we will get back to you… hopefully a crew will get out there.”
Residents report that nobody gets back to anybody, no crew arrives, and the residential community continues to get “drowned”, with no public comment, they say, from local councillors.

A maintenance service, in theory.
Tipperary County Council’s own public information states that local authorities maintain drains and gullies on public roads by clearing debris to prevent flooding. Locals say Cabragh Road is an example of what happens when that basic function becomes optional.
Other Irish local authorities describe blocked gullies as a straightforward maintenance issue, with clear responsibility for cleaning and response pathways, the kind of normal, boring competence residents say they’d happily settle for on Cabragh Road.

Local reaction
A local spokesperson said: “We’d like to thank Thurles Municipal Council for developing this immersive, all-weather pedestrian experience, where the footpath comes with complimentary road-spray, and the customer service line assures you it’s the first they’ve heard of it, every single time.”

Another added: “Storm Chandra may come and go, but Cabragh Road flooding is part of the local heritage at this stage.”

What residents are asking.
Residents are calling on Thurles Municipal District / Tipperary County Council to:

Clear the blocked drain immediately and confirm completion publicly.
Inspect and jet/clean the line, not just “have a look”, to prevent repeat blockages.
Introduce a routine gully-clearing schedule for known trouble spots.
Publish a basic response standard for reported drainage hazards on public roads.

Because, as residents point out, a public footpath shouldn’t come with a soaking, and “first we’ve heard of it” shouldn’t be the default setting for an issue that locals say happens continuously; storm or no storm.

So tell me again “Why are we paying rates and property tax?”

Thurles Planning Alerts From Tipperary County Council.

Application Ref: 2561181.
Applicant: John Ryan (Ned).
Development Address: Wolfe Tone Place, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: the construction of an extension (south of existing structure) and undertaking of alterations to a property adjoining and within the curtilage of a protected structure (TRPS2503) E41 PX09. Permission for completion of works relating to this extension – decision made.
Status: Conditional.
Application Received: 19/11/2025.
Decision Date: 20/01/2026.
Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/AppFileRefDetails/2561181/0.

Application Ref: 2461122.
Applicant: Board of Directors, Thurles Lions Trust.
Development Address: Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Development Description: (1) a two storey apartment building fronting onto Croke Street, comprising of 1 number one-bed apartment at ground floor level and 1 number one-bed apartment at first floor level and (2) a two storey apartment building located to the rear of the site.
Status: Planning Permission Granted – Conditional.
Application Received: 19/12/2024.
Decision Date: 20/01/2026.
Further Details: Further Details: http://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/.

Site Clearance Begins For Drive-Thru McDonald’s On Slievenamon Road, Thurles.

Site clearance works have begun in recent days to facilitate the construction of a drive-thru McDonald’s restaurant on Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary — a development which has generated strong local reaction, particularly among homeowners living nearby.

According to information published by Tipperary County Council, the proposed works are scheduled to run from February 2nd, 2026 to July 8th, 2026.

The development is described as follows:

Development Type: Assembly and Recreation
Overview: Construction of a 478.8 sq. m. single-storey drive-thru restaurant, including:
Access from the existing access road serving the Lidl and Insomnia units to the north
Drive-thru infrastructure including a height restrictor and customer order points with canopies
Outdoor seating area
Corral area with bins and general storage
Plant and associated infrastructure works
All related site works above and below ground

“Over the moon”… apparently.
While the development has been termed “controversial” by some, a number of local residents, particularly those with mortgages in the immediate vicinity, have been described as “over the moon” about the works, albeit in a tone that suggests the “moon” in question may be made of concrete, brake lights and late-night engine noise.

Speaking informally, several locals said they were “delighted” at the prospect of increased convenience food, traffic movements and, potentially, the sort of atmospheric ambience only a busy drive-thru can provide, especially at peak times.

In what residents stressed was “pure excitement” (and absolutely not weary sarcasm), some even expressed hope that the area could be further “enhanced” over time, with suggestions including an underground techno club, an industrial music venue, or a large-scale rave facility, should anyone (who needs to go to work in the morning), feel the neighbourhood needed more “vibrancy” after midnight.

Election season expectations:
Others said they were eagerly looking forward to the next local and general elections, when they expect to have an opportunity to express, in their own words, their “genuine, sincere and unfeigned gratitude” to whoever they believe most deserves it.

For now, the diggers are in, the clearing has started, and residents say they will be watching the project closely, if only because it may become difficult not to.

Planning Permission Granted For Social Housing On Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Tipperary County Council have granted planning permission for six social housing apartments on Lower Croke Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Selected Site: Tipperary County Council – [Add File Number 2461122 to search panel on link https://www.eplanning.ie/TipperaryCC/searchresults/recvdate ].

Tipperary County Council have granted planning permission for a new social housing development that will deliver six one-bedroom apartments on Lower Croke Street, (Formerly known as Stradavoher), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The board of directors of Thurles Lions Trust applied to the local authority to build the scheme on a vacant town-centre site. The development will comprise two new buildings providing a total of six one-bed apartments, all intended for social housing.

A number of local residents made submissions during the planning process, raising concerns about storm-water capacity and the potential for overlooking of neighbouring properties. One objection argued that a proposed balcony (on apartment 5), would allow direct overlooking into a private garden and negatively impact on privacy.
Another submission warned the project could place added pressure on a storm drainage/sewerage system that, they claimed, is already struggling with surface-water run-off; contributing to flooding risk for older homes on the street.

Despite the objections, the council have approved the development subject to conditions.
These include the removal of the proposed balcony for apartment 5, requirements to keep the public road clean and tidy during construction, and that all service cables be routed underground.
The developer must also submit a public lighting scheme for council approval, agree details of external finishes in advance, and comply with restricted construction hours: Monday to Friday (8am–6pm) and Saturday (8am–2pm).