Nenagh street works continue to december 5th

Nenagh Municipal District Council has set a target of completing the ongoing works scheme at Sarsfield St on December 5th.
The council had originally hoped to have the 10-week lighting and footpath improvement scheme completed by December 1st.
At a meeting last week, a number of councillors expressed frustration at the length of time the disruptive works are taking. But Director of Services Marcus O'Connor said the council would spend an extra few days working on Sarsfield St with a view to getting the scheme fully finished before Christmas.
The works involve repositioning and enhancing lighting on the street with new lighting columns. Timber poles are being removed with cables moved underground. Ducts have also been installed with the footpaths and kerbs being renewed.
Cllr Hughie McGrath (Ind) said the works have caused inconvenience for local residents and businesspeople. He appreciated that the council encountered bad weather on the scheme and said District Engineer Peter Fee had dealt with the situation well. But he asked the council to discontinue the works on December 1st and not resume them until January.
In support, Cllr Phyll Bugler (FG) asked that the brick work be completed on the footpaths before the council workers move off.
Cllr Seamus Morris (SF) said it is 'almost embarrasing' that Sarsfield St has been dug up for so long. While he agreed the works would be a major asset when finished, Cllr Morris said the council should have had better consultation with local people ahead of the scheme.
Cllr John Carroll (FF) also appreciated that the council had to work in diffiicult weather conditions on the narrow, busy street.
Mr O'Connor said there had been no major works carried out on Sarsfield St for a long number of years, during which the council received numerous complaints over the condition of the footpaths and lighting. He said the council did try to engage with residents in advance of the upgrade scheme, distributing leaflets to every household and business on the street.
The council always maintained that the works would take 10 weeks and that they would be finished by December 1st. Mr O'Connor said certain delays were experienced, including the encountering of hard rock under the paths. But he added that it would be worthwhile spending an extra four days on the street so that it would be fully complete in December rather than leaving a temporary surface there over the Christmas period.
Cllr McGrath expressed disappointment, saying the council had given people a commitment to be finished on December 1st. He hoped the works would be complete by the new target timeframe but said local traders would not be happy.