Landowners and residents air their views on N24 Cahir/Waterford preferred route corridor

Caption for picture above: Michael Brennan, Tramore House Regional Road Design team with Peter and Marie Dowley, Carrick-on-Suir who are viewing the map showing the Preferred Transport Solution for the N24 Cahir to Waterford Project at the public consultantion session in the Carraig Hotel last Friday, January 26. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

The N24 Cahir to Waterford Preferred Transport Solution received a mixed reaction from householders and landowners who attended the Clonmel public consultation event at the Talbot Hotel on Wednesday, January 24. 

Conor Power visited the information session to check out how the proposed link road from the Cashel Road area to Carrigeen will impact on his home. The proposed start point of the road is in the Longfields area and his home is situated near the entrance to Longfields estate.

On his way out of the Talbot Hotel ballroom, he told The Nationalist the plans for the link road were still vague and the design team couldn’t tell him whether there will be a roundabout or traffic lights erected near him or whether part of his garden will be taken for the road project.

He joked that he will probably be six foot underground by the time the road is built and it will be his children having to deal with the new road.

“They are talking about this since they put in the original bypass but they definitely need to do something because of the level of traffic. It’s often backed up to where I live,” he said.

Worried about the impact the same proposed link road will have on the Carrigeen area of Clonmel were a family living in the Carrigeen estate, who also spoke to The Nationalist as they left the public consultation event.

The family, who didn’t wish to be identified, said they had been told the road will go around the Carrigeen estate and the project team reassured them their home won’t be compulsory purchased and knocked nor would this happen any other home in the area.

However, they are still concerned about the extra traffic and noise the proposed link road would bring to their neighbourhood.

They said they own their house and worked hard to pay for it but fear it will now go down in value because of this link road.

The woman said they previously made a submission highlighting their concerns and she doesn’t see much point in doing it again.

“It’s their way or no way,” she said with resignation. “I don't think we would have much of a say,” agreed her partner.

In contrast, Milo Power from Ballyneale was one of the relieved landowners leaving the Clonmel public consultation event.

He reported the N24 route was originally earmarked to come through the Ballyneale area but now the proposed Carrick-on-Suir Bypass is starting nearer to Carrick town.

“I am relieved it’s not going through Ballyneale. I had land on both sides of the original study area. I didn’t want to be cut off and wouldn’t be allowed cross the road,” he explained.