Carrick-on-Suir MD councillors approve Carrickbeg Active Travel Scheme planning application

Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District councillors have voted unanimously to approve the planning application for the Carrickbeg Active Travel Scheme that proposes two new car parks for that area of the town.

The four councillors present at Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District’s December meeting voted in favour of the Part 8 planning application for the project that aims to provide a more attractive streetscape, improve mobility for all types of transport and deliver continuous walking routes with safe crossing points in Carrickbeg.

The Active Travel Scheme proposes the creation of a 24-space car park on a site between the Waterford Road and Quay beside the grain stores of the Glanbia Co-Op.

A second 9-space car park is proposed further down  on a vacant site on the opposite side of the Waterford Road.  

The scheme also proposes making a 40m section of the Waterford Road one-way westbound from its junction with Abbey Hill/ Bridge St. to the 24 space-car park entrance.

And it proposes making Abbey Hill one-way south bound from its junction with Bridge Street to its junction with Corpse Road. 
Widening of footpaths, the construction of new footpaths and reducing road carriageway widths are proposed along with the installation of new pedestrian crossings at the entrance to the Old Bridge on the Waterford Road and at the top of Abbey Hill.

Existing pedestrian crossings in Carrickbeg are also to be improved.

Carrick-on-Suir Cllr Kieran Bourke of Fianna Fáil proposed the approval of the Part 8 planning application at the Carrick MD meeting in Carrick Town Hall with the inclusion of one amendment that a full pedestrian crossing be installed for residents coming out of Seskin Court housing estate.

Carrick-on-Suir MD Cathaoirleach Cllr David Dunne seconded his proposal to approve the planning application.

He said the Carrickbeg Active Travel Scheme was “long overdue” and will improve parking and road safety for people crossing roads.

The installation of new footpaths will also improve safety as they were currently non-existent in certain areas of Carrickbeg.

The Sinn Féin councillor also welcomed the five to six submissions the council received about the Active Travel Scheme planning application’s proposals.

He said the council’s planning section went through these submissions very thoroughly.

Before the planning application was put to a vote, Jonathan Flood of Tipperary County Council’s Planning Section, said the council had no objections to including a full pedestrian crossing outside Seskin Court.

The council will now submit the approved planning application for the Active Travel Scheme to the National Transport Authority for approval of a budget for the project.