Tipperary councillors 'frustrated' over NTA's attitude to relocating town's bus stops

The Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Council has claimed that he is “frustrated” by the stance taken by the National Transport Authority on plans to move Nenagh’s bus stops to the railway station.

Tipperary County Council is in ongoing discussions with the NTA over the planned move under the town’s traffic management plan, but the NTA sees the station as being on the edge of town.

Under the Nenagh Traffic Management Plan, which was unveiled some years back, it was proposed to move the bus stops from Kickham Street to the station to help facilitate a new one-way system around the town.

At present, the town can suffer traffic jams when two buses arrive together and people park in the bus bays.

Cllr Hughie McGrath told the district’s November meeting that he met Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan recently, but the Minister “didn’t give me confidence they would go to the station”.

He said that he was “disappointed” with the response and outlined that the move was important to the town.

“We need clear answers from the NTA. They need to tell us why they won’t agree to it. The station is not on the edge of town,” declared Cllr McGrath.

The Cathaoirleach pointed out that the hospital was behind the station, along with the new nursing home and a number of housing estates at Tyone.

“The station is the hub of Nenagh. The NTA should be looking to go down there,” he said. “The last obstacle to the plan is to remove the buses. I’m frustrated.”

Cllr McGrath revealed that two local TDs had put down Parliamentary Questions in the Dáil on the issue.

“I can’t understand the NTA’s stand,” said Cllr John Carroll. “The railway station ticks all the boxes. It should be top priority for them.”

Cllr Joe Hanngian, who is on the council’s rural transport special policy committee, revealed that next year every village in north Tipperary will be linked to Nenagh and there could be up to six buses a day arriving in the town and a hub will be a necessary part of that infrastructure.

Cllr Ger Darcy, Cllr John “Rocky” McGrath and Cllr Michael O’Meara supported the move to the station, with Cllr O’Meara saying he had health and safety concerns over buses continuing to arrive at Kickham Street.

“It’s a miracle nobody has been hurt. There are no facilities there for anyone with mobility issues,” he said. “It is not safe at present.”

District manager Marcus O’Connor described the plan as a “no-brainer”.

“There is room there where the current set down hasn’t,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said that proper facilities such as a coffee dock and parking could be provided at the station.

He also described the current arrangements as “dangerous”.

Mr O’Connor said that as more feeder bus routes came on stream there was a need for a place to let people disembark. And if there is a proper commuter service to Limerick, that place would be at the station.

“I am heartened by the support from the members, but the NTA sees it as an out-of-town centre,” he said.

However, the council will proceed with the planned one-way system regardless of the situation with buses.

The manager revealed that the council couldn’t designate the train station as a transport hub because the grounds were owned by Irish Rail.

“We'll keep the pressure on,” he said.