Canopy at popular plaza in Tipperary won’t be in use for two years

The project managers working on the construction of the new Garda Station in Clonmel had taken “the relatively easy way out” by erecting hoarding in such a way that the canopy at the Kickham Plaza couldn’t be used for two years.

That’s according to local councillor Tom Acheson.

He told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that he wasn’t an engineer or a building expert, and he apologised if he was speaking out of turn.

However, he believed that the hoarding should have been placed on the northern side of the canopy, which would have left it in place.

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Even though he had an untrained eye, he wasn’t convinced that health and safety was the primary objective in this. You could walk underneath and alongside scaffolding in other building projects.

The canopy was one of the most attractive parts of the plaza and it should be in full use. It would be a big loss for the town to be without it for two years, he said.

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Adam Coffey, Executive Engineer with Tipperary County Council, said there was a requirement for hoarding, and a working space would always be allowed in any construction site. He said he could see why the hoarding was there.

District Administrator Carol Creighton said that the entire plaza wouldn’t be affected by the construction of the new Garda station.

A lot of consultation had taken place on this and alternatives had been discussed. They were all in favour of the new station being built.

She said that the council members could contact the communications officer of the OPW if they wanted to discuss this further.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said they all welcomed the start of the work on the new station. It was always good to see a multi million euro project coming to the town centre, she added.