Residents of Thurles estate say grass-cutting is about safety

At last month’s sitting of the Thurles-Templemore Municipal District Council, councillors said residents in Thurles were not happy about the council leaving grass to grow long in some estates.

Tipperary County Council say this was an ad-hoc plan to promote biodiversity by simply allowing the grass to grow out and admit they will need a plan going forward.

At first look, it may seem like a classic case of man versus nature.

But that is not the case.

This week, the Tipperary Star spoke to some of the residents in Collins Park, Thurles.

They told us that biodiversity is very important to them, but initiatives should not compromise their safety or enjoyment of their space.  

“All the groves are behind you.

“Now, if they come up here in the evening time, there are six kestrels in the sky, down below in the woods, and you watch them and the wildlife there and all those houses in the back, they all have the flowers for the bees and everything, and everyone does it, but that is different,” said one resident. 

GREENER GRASS

Last week, a contractor for the council came and cut the grass.

When we spoke with the residents, the job was somewhat done, but there was an understanding that the job would be finished within the next week. 

Residents acknowledged that the reason for less grass-cutting was a need to promote biodiversity but felt they should do that in their gardens or outside the estate.

“There’s no need in a built-up area for this sort of thing,” said the resident.

The council’s initiative has created a lot of problems, particularly for walkers and parents. 

Those walking along the road have been scratched by shrubs that extend past the wall on the green and make the path hard to navigate.

“They have no regard for people walking or women with prams,” said a resident.

Those same encroaching shrubs conceal the road from drivers trying to make the turn past the overgrown flowerbeds.

Long grass hides litter, and when people let their dogs off the lead on the green, it can be an excrement minefield.

And, when the council do cut the grass, they don’t tidy around the seating area, leaving weeds to grow through the benches. 

Some weeds grow out on the path and become slippery in poor weather, creating a fall hazard.

A couple of residents are concerned about a dead tree, some visiting children like to climb. 

They worry that a branch will snap and a child might be hurt and have asked the council to remove it altogether.

A resident told us that she was in Waterford recently and saw lovely wildflower gardens.

That is what she would expect of a biodiversity plan. 

“We wouldn’t mind if it was done properly and kept properly.

“Why can’t they just take it from other towns and be proud of what we have, have pride in the work, you know what I mean?

“Maybe do a bit of homework and do it right,” said the resident. 

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL

Maintenance in the estate is not the only concern residents have.

While hurling fans converge on Thurles for match days at Semple Stadium, residents say their estate becomes a makeshift car park.

“It’s wicked here during match day. Before the match starts, it’s free-flowing, but once the match ends, they are bumper to bumper trying to get out,” said one resident.

Parking on paths means that walkers can’t use them. 

People trying to get in and out of the estate are prevented from doing so by cars parked on both sides of the road. 

And if there is an emergency, residents fear there would be no room for an ambulance. 

Another resident told us there is an agreement between the gardaí and the GAA to keep the area clear, but there is little enforcement. 

They suggest that changes and the council put in more yellow lines in the estate to indicate to drivers not to park on both sides of the road. 

FRUSTRATION

Most of all, the residents were frustrated. 

They told the Star that although they report issues to the council, they can take a very long time to get them resolved.

Access to council staff is a particular difficulty, especially for those residents who are not au fait with technology.

They acknowledge that you can email customer care, but this is not accessible for everyone. 

They say some staff in the council are very good at working with them, but that high staff turnover, particularly engineers, is a cause for concern.

And it’s not just in their estate. 

Traffic in Thurles is a bug bearer for everyone who uses Thurles’s roads but one resident pointed out that the council have been talking about an inner-relief road since 1960. 

They feel there is a lot of talk but not much action. 

Some residents feel there is a double standard when it comes to them and the council. 

One resident said that the council had asked them to keep the areas around their homes tidy but did not do their part with the green areas. 

“They were after people to keep their areas clean and their houses clean, and then they left that.”

GOING FORWARD

Earlier this year, Tipperary County Council hired a biodiversity officer, with a climate change officer already in place.

At last month’s Thurles-Templemore District meeting, the District Engineer Thomas Duffy and District Administrator Sharon Scully said that from next year, there would be a proper biodiversity plan.

Residents in Collins Park say nobody came to see them before deciding to leave the grass to grow this year.

When they are consulted on design features, they aren't always listened to.

This is the case with the neglected raised flowerbed on the green.

The residents are proud of their homes and their area.

They have expressed a wish that their practical concerns be considered in biodiversity and maintenance plans going forward.