LETTER: 'We were served up a damning editorial about the traffic in Tipperary Town'

Dear Sir, last week we were served up a damning editorial about the traffic in Tipperary Town.

Sadly it was all true, which makes it even worse for the town as we can’t disregard it.

Everyone knows that Tipperary Town has been neglected in an appalling fashion by Tipperary County Council for decades and more so since the destruction of the Town Councils and this is clear to see in all aspects of the economic, social and especially the roads network in the town.

We’ve been promised a bypass for over 30 years now and while we get a carrot dangled in front of us every so often, in reality

I believe it is as far off now as it ever was.

The current proposal is a third rate effort that shows all parties are not serious about providing it.

Unfortunately we have an elected council with some great councillors but with no power whatsoever.

At least in the Town Council days we had a budget for the town and the councillors had the autonomy to use it for public services and they did so very successfully as is evidenced by the dozen or more council built housing developments totalling well over 1,000 houses.

I believe fewer than 60 social houses have been built since....

Our Town Councillors were extremely effective, proactive and productive up to the time it was dissolved by Deputy Alan Kelly and Phil Hogan.

They destroyed rural Ireland between the two of them.

The traffic problem is most irritating because it could be eased dramatically with just a little bit of creativity and very little expenditure.

The traffic lights at Crosses Corner on the Main Street are the problem.

So called smart lights that are anything but smart.

Simple solution:

Remove the traffic lights.

Then:

1. Restrict turn off points on the Main Street so that traffic heading in the Limerick direction can only turn left to leave the main street at either Kickham Place or Bridge Street and no right turns at those junctions.

2. Restrict turn off points on the Main Street so that traffic heading in the Cashel/Waterford direction can only turn left to leave the Main

Street at either James’ Street, Davis Street, Market Yard or St Michael’s Street and no right turns at those junctions.

3. Traffic coming up Bridge Street can only turn left and go with the flow towards Limerick.

4. Traffic coming down James’ Street, Davis Street or St Michael’s street can only turn left and go with the flow towards Cashel road.

Anyone needing to get back in the other direction can go around the roundabouts at Bansha Road cross or around by Abbey Street or on the other end of town up at the roundabout at Limerick Road and come back into the Main Street with the traffic flow.

A couple of extra Zebra crossings could be installed on Main Street and they would not disrupt the flow of traffic nearly as much as the “smart” traffic lights do and would still provide safe crossing points.

It is quite simple really.

Regards,

Shane Corby

Innovest Holdings Ltd.

Limerick Road,

Tipperary Town