Planning approval sought for major road safety scheme at Clonmel school

The public's views are being sought about a planning application for a major road safety scheme on the approach roads and junction outside Clonmel's Loreto Secondary School that aims to alleviate traffic congestion and improve safety for students on this busy section of road.

The Part 8 planning application for the Safe Routes to School Scheme is currently on display for public inspection at Tipperary County Council's Civic Offices in Clonmel and Nenagh and online through the Local Government Ireland Planning System website.

If approved, the scheme will be welcomed by Loreto students and their parents as well as the school's staff and local residents due to the serious traffic management issues on the roads around the school, particularly at school start and finish times.

In April last year, Clonmel’s then Mayor Cllr Pat English said it was essential this project is delivered as soon as possible due to the traffic congestion in this area. Along with the traffic issues at school start and finish time, he said it has become an unofficial inner relief route in Clonmel with many motorists using it to get to the other side of town rather than using the N24 Frank Drohan Inner Relief Road.

The planning application proposes traffic calming measures along the Coleville Road north of the Loreto with signage to define the gateway to the school zone east of the school access.

The measures include reduced carriageway widths through the upgrading and widening of footpaths and soft landscaping, enhancement of the school's access junction from Coleville Road with soft landscaping, the provision of a controlled pedestrian crossing and associated site works.

Permission is sought to upgrade the Coleville/ Mountain, Raheen and Old Waterford Roads roundabout junction to include reduced road carriageway widths through the upgrading and widening of existing footpaths and provision of controlled pedestrian crossings.

The planning application seeks approval to reduce road carriageway widths along parts of the Old Waterford Road through the provision of a set-down lane and widening and upgrading of existing footpaths north and south of the bridge and signage to define the gateway to the school zone.

It also proposes upgrading and visibility improvements at the Old Waterford Road/Raheen Court Junction.

And it seeks the green light for traffic calming along part of the Raheen Road west of and the Mountain Road south of the roundabout outside the Loreto school entrance through erecting signage to define the gateway to the school.

The public can view the plans for the Safe Routes Scheme at the Council's two main civic offices up to Friday, September 25 and online at https://planning.localgov.ie.

Submissions or observations in relation to the planning application must be submitted to Tipperary County Council Director of Services Brian Beck at the Council's Civic Offices in Nenagh or online to https://planning.localgov.ie by 4.30pm on Monday, October 12

The Council has determined that the development poses no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment.

But members of the public have four weeks from August 27 (the date the planning application notice was published) to apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the project would likely have a significant environmental impact.