Council accused of giving 'two fingers' to Carrick-on-Suir Main Street parking petition

A parking action group has accused Tipperary County Council of giving the “two fingers” to a public petition of over 6,670 signatures calling for retention of existing parking spaces on Carrick-on-Suir Main Street that was handed over to it a year ago.

Main Street traders Maurice Whelan and Paul O’Sullivan presented the petition of 6,676 names on behalf of the Main Street Business Initiative group to former Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cllr Mark Fitzgerald at Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall on January 23, 2025 just hours before the monthly meeting of the district’s councillors.

The MBI that represents a group of businesses, property owners and residents of Main Street and some adjacent streets, is campaigning to save 21 parking spaces facing removal as part of the upcoming Carrick Regeneration Scheme facelift of the street and restoration of six parking spaces removed during the Covid pandemic to facilitate outdoor dining.

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The petition was collected by the group to show its members had a public mandate for their campaign to save the parking spaces.

But a year on the action group is angry at Tipperary County Council’s lack of response to the petition.

In a statement, the MBI complained the petition has never been acknowledged or publicly debated by the local authority and called on the council to do both.

It accused the council of attempting to “silence critical voices while pressing ahead regardless” by “repeatedly sidelining” Main Street businesses, everyday users of the town and thousands who signed the petition.

“It (the petition) appears to have exerted no visible influence on the evolving proposals.

“For many in the town this looks and feels like a deliberate gesture of contempt towards thousands of local voices,” said the action group.

“It is hard to escape the conclusion that an unwelcome democratic intervention is being quietly brushed aside.”

The group pointed to the published preliminary results of the public consultation survey on the future of the former Goldcrop site on Carrick’s North Quay where parking was mentioned by respondents over 700 times in the open response to the question: What is most needed in Carrick-on-Suir?

“There were hundreds upon hundreds of references to car parks, to town parking, to space for tour buses.

“On any candid reading, the removal of a large portion of Main Street parking cannot be reconciled with what local people themselves identified as essential.”

The group argued that a call for better roads and traffic management can’t be repackaged as a “mandate to tear away the parking that keeps Main Street alive”.

It said for small independent traders, older residents, workers and families, and those living with mobility challenges convenient short-stay parking close to Main Street “is a lifeline not a luxury”.

“Remove it and the town’s commercial heart will falter. Trade will seep away to out of town centres and online competitors.

Nearby residential streets will endure more congestion, more unsafe and inconsiderate parking.

“The long-term strength of Main Street as Carrick-on-Suir’s primary economic artery will be placed in real and avoidable jeopardy,” the MBI warned.

The group called for an “immediate halt” to the plan to remove a substantial portion of Main Street’s parking until all consultation and survey material has been fully disclosed; the petition has been formally acknowledged and openly debated and there has been an “independent, transparent and methodically robust reassessment of options for parking, traffic circulation, access, tourism, sustainability and the public realm”.

Council Reponds

The Nationalist contacted Carrick Municipal District to comment on the MBI’s criticisms. The local authority responded that over the years a number of petitions have been organised in the town by different community groups, individuals and organisations on a variety of issues.

“The Municipal District respects the rights of any group or individual to organise a petition, and we appreciate the concerns of all those who have taken the time to sign one.

“The Municipal District continues to engage on a one-to-one basis with businesses and property owners as part of the regeneration process and welcomes anyone with concerns to visit the District Offices. 

“The Municipal District recognises and appreciates the concerns of all businesses and property owners within the town and these concerns will be very much at the centre of how the works are delivered.”

The council said Carrick Regeneration Scheme represents a “substantial public investment” in the revitalisation of Carrick-on-Suir and pointed out that as part of the process for applying for funding for the scheme, it carried out a series of consultations with the public, community groups, businesses and stakeholders throughout the town, in order to engage as widely as possible in the development of the funding proposal. 

“The public consultation included surveys, one-to-one discussions, creation of a website and a wider invitation to stakeholders to engage directly with the Municipal District, should they wish to provide ideas or raise concerns. 

“The level of engagement seen as part of the public surveys at that time was testament to the strong support that existed across all sectors of the community for the regeneration process.

 “The formal Part 8 planning process, which took place in advance of the submission of the funding application to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, saw further public consultation and engagement with the people, communities, businesses and stakeholders.  In December 2021, Part 8 planning was granted for the regeneration plan.

“Following the application by Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, €17.9m in funding was secured for the five-phase regeneration of Carrick-on-Suir town centre, entitled “A Journey from the Suir Blueway to the Ormond Castle Quarter – Delivering our Community’s Ambition”. 

“This remains the largest single investment in any town in the country under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) to date. A further €1 million in funding was announced under RRDF in 2025, to activate the Goldcrop site.”

In relation to the recent public consultation survey carried out in relation to the future use of the former Goldcrop site, the council explained the survey was assisting the local authority in preparing a draft concept design for the site, taking all factors into account.

“The survey results in themselves do not stand alone to progress the project, rather are taken in the context of this important town centre site. 

“Any proposed development would take into account all infrastructure requirements, including required flood alleviation measures, traffic considerations, parking, tour bus parking, water, etc.  All issues are expected to be covered in detail in the final report presented by the consultants.

The council concluded by reiterating that it “continues to work on behalf of, and with the people and businesses of Carrick-on-Suir to ensure the town can grow and prosper into the future”.

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