Fears Tipp Town road project funding could be lost

Negotiations continue between Tipperary County Council and local residents to secure final agreement on the works proposed for the Limerick side of the N24 on the outskirts of the town.

Local residents have expressed concerns about some aspects of the scheme but its feared that like other road projects in the past, the money could be lost if agreement isn't reached.

The National Roads Authority wants to go ahead with traffic calming and pavement strengthening over a one kilometre stretch of the N24.

The project would stretch from the Bohercrowe Roundabout on the Limerick Road as far as the O'Brien Street Junction.

When the idea was first proposed 13 submissions were received from residents in the Davitt Street and Church Street area – their concerns related mostly to a pedestrian crossing planned for Davitt Street, the width of build-outs which were designed to slow down traffic and the impact on parking spaces for residents.

Following consultations between the NRA, Tipperary County Council and the local residents a number of changes have been made to the plans including doing away with the crossing.

Director of Services Marcus O'Connor says the last remaining stumbling block relates to two buildouts on Davitt Street. He intends to liaise with both the NRA and locals to resolve the matter.

Members of the Tipperary – Cashel Municipal District signed off on the plans at their monthly meeting yesterday – subject to agreement on those two controversial buildouts.

Davitt Street resident Noreen Murray has been opposed to the plans from day one. She was one of those who engaged with the planning authority during the consultation period to express her concerns. Noreen is anxious that their fears will still be addressed.

The revised works will see a reduction from 73 to 65 parking spaces in the area.

With one of the main issues raised by residents being the loss of spaces Tipperary County Council carried out a survey of the current parking. They found that at the busiest part of the day 42 spaces were being used while 20 to 30 spaces are utilised at night.

Council officials are hoping to go to construction or at the very least to appoint a contractor by the end of the year.

With €1.1 million available for the works Councillor Michael Fitzgerald feels it's vital that it be used in the area and not lost to another part of the county.