Tipperary bridge project is back on track

The Ardfinnan bridge project is back on track after funding was allocated for the next stages by the Department of Transport.

The good news came as a huge crowd gathered in Ardfinnan last Thursday evening at a public meeting.

A letter was read out at the start of the meeting from Minister of State for Transport Jack Chambers allocating €250,000 to the project.

This came as a massive boost to the people of Ardfinnan as the process can now move onto preliminary design and statutory process stages.

The people of Ardfinnan came out in strong numbers to express their frustration at the delays to the project and voiced their determination to see the work proceed.

The meeting was called to discuss what the people of the village viewed as a massive blow to the project.

They were outraged by the decision of the National Transport Authority to reject the independent footbridge proposal and the authority stated they were not able to fund that proposed option.

That independent footbridge option had been recommended by consultants engaged by Tipperary County Council.

Days prior to the public meeting there had been fiery exchanges at a meeting of Tipperary County Council.

Elected representatives took exception to remarks made at the meeting by Director of Services Marcus O’Connor.

FOOTBRIDGE OPTION

The Director of Services said he did not agree with the independent footbridge option recommended by the consultants engaged by the county council.

Community Council Chairman Cllr Michael Anglim welcomed the intervention of the Department of Transport.

“We are now back on track and we can move on to the next stage,” said Cllr Anglim who said the funding from the Department meant the process could proceed.

“As far as we are concerned the Department of Transport is responsible for the NTA and the Department has now given the all clear to move on by allocating funds,” said Cllr Anglim.

The public meeting provided an opportunity for the people to express their frustration having had to endure a one-way traffic system on the bridge for years.

At the meeting there was a proposal from the floor that Ardfinnan Community Council send a letter to Tipperary County Council calling for Director of Services Marcus O’Connor to step down from his post following his remarks made at a county council meeting.

Cllr Anglim said he was uncomfortable with the proposal as Chairman of the community council.

A proposal from the floor suggested that the letter should be sent on behalf of the people of Ardfinnan rather than from Ardfinnan Community Council.

There was a show of hands which reflected an overwhelming majority in favour of the letter being sent on behalf of the people of Ardfinnan.

Deputy Martin Browne told the meeting that he believed that the project would have a stronger chance of being completed with unity being shown by politicians on the matter.

“There is enough money being wasted in the country, this project is not a waste of money,” he told the meeting.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said €2m had already been spent on the project.

“I have asked Minister Eamon Ryan to come down but he has refused,” he said.

Deputy McGrath, referring to the remarks of the senior council official, said power could not be handed over to un-elected officials.

“The comment he made was utter blackguarding, Marcus O’Connor does not want the bridge, he is not accountable to anybody,” said Deputy McGrath.

Deputy Jackie Cahill, welcomed the funding from the Department of Transport and spoke in favour of the project going ahead.

Deputy Cahill said he saw nothing wrong with the letter going out as the people of Ardfinnan had fully supported the proposal made from the floor of the meeting.