Traders oppose loss of parking on Carrick-on-Suir's Main St. in submissions to council

Many of the 12 submissions Tipperary County Council received in relation to the Stable Lane Car Park planning application were from Main Street traders who argued it would be too far away from their businesses and sought more car parking outside their premises.

The town centre car park project is being spearheaded by Tipperary County Council to offset the reduction in parking spaces on Main Street when its streetscape is revamped under the Carrick Regeneration Scheme.

The number of parking spaces on Main St, is set to nearly halve dropping from 56 to 29 but the council argues this new car park will only be a five minute walk from the street.

But eight of the 12 submissions to the Stable Lane Car Park planning application highlight traders’ opposition to the reduction of Main St. parking spaces.

Tipperary County Council CEO Joe MacGrath’s report on the application summarises each of the submissions.

The submissions of Paul O’Sullivan of Splash & Chat, 86 Main Street; Trish and Emma of Carrick Print at 85 Main Street; Jennifer Kearns of Urban Escape Beauty Salon of 71 Main Street; Ber Whelan, Maurice Whelan and Michael Whelan of Main Street all contend the proposed car park will be too far from their businesses and argue it will be not be used because of its “limited and restricted access”.

Submissions from Carrick Print and Splash & Chat propose “angled” parking on one side of Main Street to provide double the amount of car parking spaces.

Ber, Michael and Maurice Whelan’s submission referred to the impact the new parking layout on Main Street will have on them and request five parking spaces outside their premises

Jennifer Kearns’ submission called for the revised parking layout plan to be “shelved” until the proposed Carrick Bypass is completed.

Denis Coghlan of Care Plus Pharmacy of 99 Main Street argues in his submission that on-street parking for older people is a priority and urges the council to retain on-street parking spaces.

This view is echoed in the submission of Paul O’Rafferty of Lloyds Pharmacy chain, which has a branch on 83 Main Street. He maintained the replacement of on-street parking places with the new car park was not acceptable as the location was too far away.

He warned removing car parking spaces on Main Street will further deter people from shopping in the town and lead to the closure of businesses.

Louise Whelan from Oaklands, Carrick-on-Suir welcomed the proposed car park in her submission but sought the retention of the current parking layout on Main Street due to the impact that losing car parking spaces will have on older people and people with disabilities.

In its response, the Council said it noted the concerns raised about the distance of Stable Lane Car Park to businesses but pointed out the comments relating to on-street parking layout were “outside the scope” of the development, which was confined only to the provision of car parking at Stable Lane.

Meanwhile, a submission from Harry and Josephine Nolan of the Rosebowl Florists, whose premises at No.65 includes the arch over the entrance to Chapel Street, outlines their concern about an increase in traffic volumes going through the arch.

The submission highlights a possible safety risk to householders and wheelchair users in that area and expresses concern that the increase in traffic will increase the risk to the arch, which has been damaged by high vehicles on numerous occasions.

The Council’s response to this submission was that these issues were outside the scope of the development but added that they could be examined during the construction phase so appropriate measures could be provided to address these concerns.

After considering all the submissions, the Council CEO report’s concluded that no changes should be made to the car park planning application and recommended the application be approved.