Transport « Thurles Information

Recent Speeding Fines Issued May Not Be Valid

Particularly nowadays, we are all very familiar in this country with the phrase “Two Tier Society”, however for many months now, here in Co.Tipperary the picturesque village of Inch on highway R498, has been displaying a “Two Tier Speed Limit” and locals are boasting that they are the only village in the world which has this anomaly. Indeed they are hoping to gather much needed tourism revenue and expecting Shannon Development to assist them to promote this eighth wonder of the world.

How did this unusual phenomenal occur you might ask? Well to tell you the truth www.thurles.info for the first time ever admit we are totally gobsmacked.

Fairy at work in Inch Thurles.

Locals expound many theories as to how this came about and these include:-
(A) Signs were installed by a dyslexic NRA or North Tipperary Co. Council Council employee.
(B) Unhappy green fairies in the area are bitter because someone interfered with their rainbows. (Believe me there are fairies in Tipperary. They can best be seen after the pubs shut.)
(C) It is a special speed limit for local politicians and their Garda drivers, rushing to funerals and to the aid of the 7,712 Tipperary unemployed and the 36,438 households countrywide that are now in mortgage arrears.
(D) An effort by the Garda Traffic Corp to confuse drivers, so as to collect maximum money from speeding tickets, to assist in the bolstering of Anglo Irish Bank Guarantees.
(E) However the most common held theory elucidated, is that because of the imminent threat to Accident and Emergency services at Nenagh General Hospital, HSE officials and local politicians may need access to a quick getaway, the latter to survive taking part in the soon to be held next General Election.

All joking aside folks, while the National Roads Authority (NRA) reveal plans to develop a 2,000km cycle path network around the country at cost unknown and now also intend to spend €250,000 erecting signs across the motorway network, telling drivers there is nowhere to stop to eat, refuel or visit the toilet, motorist in Rural Tipperary are being fined for speeding where speed limit signs clearly do not exist or, at the very least, are confusing.

Top Local Solicitor and Thurles Councillor Mr Gerard O’Brien who runs his office from 2 Thomond Road in the town has described this scenario as “motorist entrapment, akin to shooting fish in a barrel.”

Whatever the reason for this anomaly, it would appear that after some months, no one is rushing to correct this confusion, which would include the replacement of missing speed signs traveling towards Thurles, and balancing the existing speed signs travelling towards the Nenagh direction. Our picture clearly shows the back and front of speed signs as you enter the village of Inch from the Thurles road and also as you leave the village, headed towards Thurles.

Locals inform us that a certain van regularly parks in the towns-land of Ballinahow, taking pictures of car number plates. In fact one was lurking there on the 2nd of September last at 7.00pm, we wonder if they photographed or even noticed this confusing signage. Certainly local police appeared to be unaware of it when I reported it today.
We have also notified North Tipperary Co. Council’s Health and Safety department so hopefully this confusion can be sorted out before the NRA run out of money or motorists end up in the local Courts, wasting a Judges valuable time.

Commercial Vehicle Status Versus The State Mercedes

Commercial Vehicle The State Mercedes S350

The Department of Transport earlier this month issued a circular (Circular Letter MT 4 2010) on the rules and regulations regarding motor tax for commercial vehicles, following an increase in the number of vehicles switching from private motor tax classes to commercial vehicle classes.

Owners of vehicles currently taxed for commercial purposes face no additional requirements regarding forms or declarations other than they did in the past.

The Form RF111A Goods Declaration, which requires applicants to make a promise that the vehicle will only be used for commercial purposes, has always been a requirement when first taxing a small commercial vehicle. One small change has been made to Form RF 111A , which now requires an applicant who is applying for a vehicle to be taxed at the goods rate to provide a Revenue registration identity number. This is to help ensure that the appropriate rate of tax is paid.

There is nothing whatsoever new about owners of commercial vehicles being required to confirm that they are not using them for private purposes, so recent attacks on poor misunderstood Johnny Gormley are for the most part without foundation.

The fuss is being generated by headline grabbing politico’s who as we get neared to a general election, behave like drowning men snatching at small straws.

This Goods Declaration updating has raised concerns among farmers, small businesses and the motor industry, and prompted calls for clarification and flexibility on the use of commercial vehicles. It is ludicrous and wasteful of resources to suggest that a small business owner, farmer or tradesman would be unable to use a commercially taxed vehicle for minor personal use over the course of his day’s work and any attempt to enforce same would be totally farcical.

However there is one piece of legislation which we the Irish Taxpayer would like Johnny Gormley to change.

Please ensure that current commercial vehicle custom and practice is rigorously applied to the Government Mercedes. Currently all elected representatives who are given a State car, should, on receipt of same, sign an agreement to the following effect:-

1. I agree never to abuse the generosity of the hardworking plebes whose daily sweat pays for my State car and I will use local Taxis, Bicycle, Dart and Train where same is more practicable.

2. I agree to only use the State car for official business and never for my constituency duties including attending Funerals, Charity Fund Raising events, Soccer, Rugby or GAA matches, official openings of Public Houses and Book Launches.

3. I agree to never instruct my police driver to take an empty State Car to pick me up at a Summer School or to drive ahead to meet me at the next airport to which I propose to fly.

4. I agree not to use the State car for the transport or collection of clothing at the Dry cleaners, Fish and Chips, conveyance of Family Pets and Family Members on School Runs, Sleep Overs, Trips to Airports and the Sea Side, not to mention Family Shopping Expeditions.

5. I fully understand that in total this ministerial fleet costs about €7 million a year to maintain, in terms of drivers’ salaries, expenses, and of course necessary car maintenance and all paid for by my duped electorate.

Gang Target BMW Airbags

BMW 7 Series, Drivers Airbag

BMW car owners are being warned to be vigilant following the revelation by gardai, that a gang of specialist thieves have begun stealing airbags.

The gang which are known to operate presently in the Tipperary, Cork and Waterford areas of the country presently are singling out 5 series or 7 series BMW saloons or coupes.

The thieves are breaking into these vehicles and removing the drivers airbags, without activating them. As many as 15 such thefts have taken place in Cork alone, since the end of July of this year.

Airbags for a 5 series or 7 series BMW saloon or coupe can be worth as much as €1,500 to prospective buyers.

Irish Rail – Bridge For Thurles Link Road Agreed

Thurles Chamber President Mr. Pat Hayes has welcomed the recent news that Irish Rail have given their final consent to the construction of a bridge to traverse the main Dublin – Cork railway line, which will facilitate the proposed link road between the Nenagh and Templemore roads out of Thurles town.

Mr Hayes stated:

President of Thurles Chamber Mr Pat Hayes

“This bridge when joined with the proposed new link road, the route of which is in the later phase of being finalised, would greatly help to alleviate the traffic problems currently affecting businesses in Thurles and which has driven shoppers on the outskirts of Thurles to other towns to transact their daily business.”

Mr Hayes stated that he had been given to understand that contractors had now been appointed to this bridge building project and work is expected to begin before the end of the current year.

Mr Hayes stated however that the link road project was expected to take until mid 2011 before being completed and he called on all public representatives from all political parties and the NRA to expedite progress on this project and on the long promised Thurles bypass.

Details of the finalised plans for the link road route is expected to go on public display within the coming weeks.

Planning On Affecting The Lives Of Others This Weekend?

Another week gone bye, another unacceptable number of road death, another number of family and close friends in shock and mourning loved ones, another local community speechless and brought to tears.

This coming bank holiday there is every chance you will possibly be responsible for all of the above, because you have refused to embrace life and all it has to offer, because you wanted to impress friends, because you believe your vehicle is a Ferrari and you are Fernando Alonso taking part in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The video hereunder is one of the most moving commercials I have ever seen, yet not a word is spoken and it says just about everything needed to be said, to those out motoring this coming weekend.

This video does not attempt to scare, there is no blood or mashed metal, but hopefully it will make you think and be inspired with regard to your motoring behaviour.

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A total of 28 people have died, 50 have been seriously injured and an average of 1500 close relatives and friend’s lives have been ruined, in bank holiday crashes since 2005.

“Heed the speed- Arrive Alive.”