Transport « Thurles Information

Major Fire At Thurles Bus Depot

As we speak, news is just coming in regarding a major fire at Thurles Bus depot, situated on Abbey Rd Thurles, beside Thurles railway station. Police and members of the North Tipperary fire brigade are in place attempting to control the blaze.

Factual information is not available presently as to the cause of this outbreak, however we will bring you further details as same becomes known.

Photo courtesy Mr Pat Corbett

Tipperary / Thurles Temporary Road Closures

Notice has been given by North Tipperary County Council of their intention to close the following roads to facilitate new water main installations.

The roads named are as follows:
The L4123 at Bohernacrusha to Raheen, Thurles. Period of Closure: From 12th November to 21st December 2012 (All dates inclusive).
The L4127 at Farney, Ballycahill, Thurles. Period of Closure: From 12th November to 24th November 2012 (All dates inclusive).

Alternative Routes:
Diversion for L4123 via R661 & L4124 and vice versa.
Diversion for L4127 via Castlefogarty & Ballycahill village and vice versa.
Note: All diversions will be clearly signposted.

Objections to these proposed temporary closure may be submitted in writing to the Director of Services, Roads, Transportation & Water Services, North Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, not later than 12.00 noon on Thursday 25th October 2012.

North Tipperary County Council and Thurles Town Council have also made an order closing the following roads in Thurles Town to the public. The purpose of these road closures are to facilitate a Bike Road Race, which is being held in Thurles on the 28th October, 2012 as part of the Thurles Halloween Festival.

(1) River Suir Bridge (N75), Liberty Square (N75), O’ Donovan Rossa Street (N62), Parnell Street (R498) and Slievenamon Road (N62) from Liberty Square to its junction with Fianna Road/Thomond Road.
(2) L4026 – Cuchulainn Road, L4021 Emmett Street, L4022 Thomond Road.

Period of Closure:
(1) From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday 28th October, 2012.
(2) From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday 28th October, 2012.
Note Alternative Routes: Via The Jimmy Doyle Road, L4039 – Leugh Road, R498 – Castlemeadows, L4027 – Bohernanave Road, R660 – Abbey Road, L4018 – Butler/Iona/Innisfallen Avenues, R659 – Stradavoher,L4017 – Clongour Road, N62 – Clongour/ Turtulla, Archerstown, L4001 – Mill Road.

Note also that pedestrian access only, will be permitted during the period of closure.

Train & Vehicle Crash At Tipperary Level Crossing

Iarnród Éireann train

Reports are just coming in that an Iarnród Éireann train has been in a collision with a motor vehicle at a level crossing here in Co Tipperary.

In a statement earlier Iarnród Éireann confirmed that the incident happened around 8.00pm.

The collision is believed to have happened at Kelly’s Crossing in Birdhill, Co Tipperary tonight.

The 6.20pm train scheduled from Ballybrophy to Limerick was involved in the incident and Emergency Services etc are presently at the scene.

The driver and possibly between six to eight passengers are believed to have been on the train at the time of the incident, however there are no reports of any injuries.

A woman in her 60’s, who was the driver of the car, was in the vehicle on her own at the time of the collision. She was later taken to Limerick hospital, suffering from shock.

Thurles Traffic & Road Closures Planned For September

The following temporary traffic arrangements have been agreed following consultation with Thurles Gardaí, North Tipperary Co Council, Consultants and Contractor:-

Barry’s Bridge

Suir Bridge
Two lanes of traffic will continue to operate over Suir (Barry’s) Bridge however there will be only one footpath open on this Bridge at various times while necessary works on railings and footpath surfaces continue.

Turtulla Bridge
There will be Lane closures in operation with single lane shuttle traffic in operation controlled by Traffic lights.
Flagmen, using manual ‘Stop/Go,’ signalling will operate during peak times from 08:00 – 10:00 hrs and 16:00 – 18:00 hrs.

Drish Bridge
Works will continue here with single lane traffic in operation controlled by Traffic lights.

This current operation of temporary Traffic Management will be reviewed regularly.

Other Proposed Road & Street Closures In Thurles Planned

North Tipperary County Council and Thurles Town Council propose to make an order closing the following roads to the public to facilitate the Women’s Tipperary Mini Marathon which is being held in Thurles on September 30th, 2012.

This order is sought under the ROADS ACT 1993 – 2007 (SECTION 75 OF THE ROADS ACT 1993) ROADS REGULATIONS 1994.

N62 – O’ Donovan Rossa Street, Thurles to the junction of Templemore town. Period of Closure: From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday 30th. September, 2012.

L4039 – Jimmy Doyle Road, Thurles. Period of Closure: From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday 30th. September, 2012.

Alternative Route for motorists is via R501 Richmond, Templemore to Borrisoleigh and via R498 Borrisoleigh to Thurles.
Pedestrian access only will be permitted during these temporary closures.

Any objections, which persons may wish to express, to these proposed closures of the above routes should make same in writing to reach Mr Marcus O’Connor, Director of Roads & Water Services, North Tipperary County Council, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh Tipperary not later than 12.00 noon on September 5th 2012.

Target Express Cease Trading

Revenue Commissioners

Target Express, the trading name for College Freight, is just one of an expected five or six large haulage companies, which will cease trading before Christmas, according to Eoin Gavin the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Target Express ceased trading yesterday with the loss of 398 jobs, claiming that the company was forced to closed because of ‘tough tactics,’ adopted by the Irish Revenue Commissioners. The company had been in business since 1988 with big named clients which included A-Wear and Smyth’s Toys & is currently the main sponsors of the Tyrone Gaelic football and hurling teams. The company claims it was forced to cease trading yesterday when the Revenue froze its bank accounts, thus disallowing payment to known creditors & its workforce.

The company has a network of depots and hubs nationally, including rented space at the Germinal Seeds plant near the Horse & Jockey, Thurles, here in Co Tipperary. Around 300 of jobs lost are based in Southern Ireland with the remainder in the North.

The companies managing director Mr Seamus McBrien claims that the Revenue Commissioners rejected, yesterday, a deal which would have seen the company pay off a further €175,000 of their overall outstanding liability of €300,000 & because of this action 398 people had lost their jobs as a result of Revenue insisting on receiving the additional €125,000.

However, based on previous stances by the Revenue Commissioners in dealing with similar companies which are found to be non compliant & defaulting taxpayers, these same companies are viewed correctly as competing unfairly and in an unfair environment. Revenue are aware, from bitter experience, that usually non compliant traders end up destroying the businesses of other law abiding competitors who remain fully compliant and meticulous in carrying out their everyday financial responsibilities.

However Target Express company employees, now forced to apply for social welfare at the full rates, will cost us, the taxpayer, at least an estimated €2.9million, over the next 12 months.

The issues of dealing with non tax compliance, particularly in the light of recent cases already highlighted in the media, e.g. Mr Paul Begley of Begley Brothers, Mr Sean Hartigan of Prestige Recycling, Mr Mick Wallace TD, & now Target Express, must surely raise considerable national debate, in the interests of employees, fair trading, our Irish State and my opening statement.