Parnell Street (formerly New Street)at the junction (right) withCúchulainn Road (formerly Nicholas Street).
To correct this; Under section 6.3.4 of the proposed Phase 2 plans, now at discussion state, we read: [Note in all quotes herewith, same are taken exactly as stated on the Phase 2 Report]. “There is to be the introduction of double yellow lines, prohibiting parking on Parnell Square, north and south of the Parnell Street car park.”
Full prohibited parking on Parnell Street is indeed most welcome, same having been sought time and time again and refused by council officials. Same will be seen as a blessing, especially by HGV drivers and all on-coming vehicles they met, thus removing the frustration experienced by all, especially those servicing 3 large schools in this area. The referred‘Parnell Square’ of course does not exist as an area in Thurles, (possibly mistaken copied from Dublin’s national plan), however, we now understand that this proposal refers to the full length of both sides of Parnell Street in Thurles town, which extends certainly to Thurles Railway bridge and possibly ends at the junction with Bohernanave, before it joins Castlemeadows, on the R498, at Semple Stadium. Here double yellow lines already exist fully on the left-hand-side, as vehicles travel slowly north over sunken collapsing drain covers. Same yellow lines also partially exist on the right-hand-side of the narrower sections of this medieval roadway; when travelling in the same direction.
Under section 6.3.5of this proposed Phase 2 plan we read:- Quote:“To counter the reduction in the parking spaces in the Square, [Liberty Square], Tipperary County Council, as part of a separate project, is developing a new car park, which is to be located within the Parnell Street Car Park, to the northwest of Liberty Square. This new car park will consist of a total of 50 new parking spaces and is to be delivered prior to the Liberty Square Phase 2 scheme. This leads to a net gainof 30 spaces, for public parking, when combined with this scheme.
In our report of July 22nd found HERE and entitled “Proposed Liberty Square Layout Phase 2”, readers will be aware of a loss of 19 car parking spaces, including a Taxi Rank, under this proposed, long overdue, Phase 2 upgrade. The 19 car parking spaces lost in Liberty Square, when added to the 21 car parking spaces, due to be axed on Parnell Street, as part of this new planning proposal, we calculate as a loss of 40 lost/removed spaces in total. 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.[50-40=10 not 30] Where these extra 50 car parking spaces can be provided ‘northwest of the Liberty Square car park’ is not disclosed. But it has been suggested that an announcement by councillors of the purchase of new land, may be ‘being currently kept under tight wraps’.
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.
“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.
It has become perfectly obvious that urban city planning ideas are now being mandatory enforced on rural, agricultural towns like Thurles, Co. Tipperary with disastrous consequences, forcing trading retail businesses to either close or fold their tents to move elsewhere.
Anyone who visited Dublin City recently will know that only public transport, cyclists and pedestrians can now get into and around its increasingly menacing streets, with any degree of efficiently.
The busy prosperous Liberty Square of the 1960’s.
That is all well and good in Dublin with its network of buses, trams and taxis. Here in rural Thurles such public transport is very limited. There isn’t a Dart tram line to be found running from rural Upperchurch or indeed Two-mile-Borris or Littleton villages every 15 minutes. Indeed there is not one single bus shelter to be found in Thurles, to protect a prospective bus passenger from our inclement weather.
For those who wish to view what exactly will be forced on the residents and businesses of this once prosperous midland town, take a look here: N62-Slievenamon-Road-Phase-2.pdf
NOTE Page 6 of the above pdf: “Some of the key interventions that this strategy will deliver include significant investment in the provision of safe, segregated infrastructure to protect those walking and cycling on our roads, and initiatives to promote modal shift from motor vehicle travel to support environmental, safety and health objectives.”
The picturesque Liberty Square, midday in 2023, asks a Question: Where are the town centre consumers; where are the cyclists; the walker, and the vehicle parking spaces. Answer: Driven out with the businesses. Gone to support German international discount retailers on the outskirts of Thurles, who offer very little local employment, while selling a considerable amount of German processed produce.
See also what is planned in the Draft Discussion maps for Slievenamon Road, shown here: N62-Slievenamon-Road-Map.pdf.
Question: Where are the Cycle Paths either on a half upgraded Liberty Square, town centre or on this newly designed, still to be revamped, Slievenamon Road plan? Answer: Non existent.
This October 2022 plan will most certainly drive home that final nail in our town centre’s coffin. However, the local electorate, (now remaining surprisingly silent), can express their anger, during local elections, expected to be held possible next March.
* Changes To Disabled or Invalid Parking In Liberty Square, Thurles.
*Thurles Municipal District Council Use Consultant To Decide Paint Colour For Liberty Square Businesses.
Picture shown above, indicate recent changes to Disabled or Invalid Parking in Liberty Square, Thurles. Initially sign posts identifying these parking areas [See Pic. I] were erected facing away from traffic [See Pic. 2] the wrong way. Now the same erected signs have been removed altogether [See pic. 3] and their postholes filled in with tarmac, [See Pic. 4].
Disabled or Invalided drivers, not familiar with the area, can now no longer find the spaces, shielded by parked cars.
But not to worry; once again it’s only taxpayers money.
On another matter; local press reports that Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin has been informed by District Administrator Ms Sharon Scully(Templemore Thurles Municipal District Council) of a proposed Liberty Square painting scheme.
From the report we understand that Ms Scully informed council members that a consultant had drawn up a “pallet of colours”, which would be used and she was asking for expressions of interest by property owners on the half upgraded Liberty Square area of the town.
It is all about Liberty Square.
Meanwhile, local press makes no public mention of the stench of sewage being experienced by shop owners on the money side of Liberty Square (distinct from the ‘Sunny side’). We understand, however, that a representative of Thurles Municipal District Council has called to the shops in question, [latter stretching from Emmet Street to Slievenamon Road], following complaints having been received by said council. According to two shop owners, they were informed to forward any further complaints to “Irish Water”.
We further understand, that at least one premises has contacted their landlord, regarding the issue.
One shop owner informed us that an Irish Water representative has since called, but couldn’t get any smell. Perhaps his olfactory sensory neurons, which are found normally in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose and connected directly to his brain, were out of action at the time. Or perhaps the prevailing wind, blowing from a westerly direction, had failed to materialise on that given day.
Meanwhile, regardless of this stench; same akin to sewage, (according to my chemosensory system), Fianna Fail Councillor Mr Hanafin, [again according to Local Press] has stated that dereliction is a major problem in town centres across Co. Tipperary and the only way he could see out of it, was by the council issuing ‘Compulsory Purchase Orders’ on these properties, or else charging a ‘dereliction levy’ on property owners.
Cllr Hanafin, did not elaborate on what all the properties would be then used for, once ‘compulsory purchase’ had been undertaken by the council, using of course good old taxpayers money.
A listen, sure you have to be saying something when elected to a position of power within your community.
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