Concerns over one-way traffic system in Nenagh

Some shop owners have told a local councillor that they have experienced a drop in trade since the introduction of the one-way traffic system in Nenagh last year.

Cllr Michael O’ Meara said a number of business owners had expressed these concerns to him.

Other councillors have reported that some drivers are finding it challenging to cope with the changes from the traditional two-way traffic flow system.

But while Tipperary County Council is planning to conduct a review, the local authority has no plans to radically change the new system, asserting that it has ended traffic congestion in the town.

The issue was raised at last Thursday’s meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District authority by Cllr Pamela Quirke O’ Meara. She said some people in her area of Templederry and Silvermines had told her they found the one-way system “very difficult”.

She urged the council to allow people to make submissions on the system, telling council management: “I know you deemed it as successful. The system is well bedded in now and I think it’s time for people to have their say.”

Cllr JP O’ Meara said that from his observations, some drivers encountered difficulties when trying to change lanes on the streets.

Cllr Michael O’ Meara said the general consensus was that the one-way system was not working. “I have been talking to a few business people in the town who say business is down because of it.”

In Pearse Street, drivers now had to encounter three pedestrian crossings, “and people just want to get out of there as fast as they can”.

Cllr O’ Meara said adding to the problems was that there was now a bus stop on the same street, while car parking spaces had been reduced due to the development of traffic islands.

“We need to do a survey of the businesspeople and people travelling through the town again because there is an undercurrent of people who are not happy with it.”

Cllr John Carroll agreed that some drivers were experiencing difficulties changing lanes. “People are shooting at great speed to get into lane on the system, and there is fear someone might be hit.” Excessive speeding was evident on some of the narrow streets, such as Mitchel Street and Sarsfield Street. Raised tables could be put on roads in these areas to slow traffic down, said Cllr Carroll.

Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh said a pedestrian crossing was badly needed on the section of road between Yewston housing estate and the Centra store on Clare Street due to increased traffic coming up from the town centre since the system came into operation. Cllr Séamie Morris said lorries were parking up on streets to offload goods to shops and businesses, particularly in Pearse Street. He wondered if there were sufficient loading bays built into the one-way system.

Asked by the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Fiona Bonfield, about the nationwide introduction of a cut in the speed limit in urban areas from the current 50kph to 30kph as heralded by the Government, Senior Engineer Kieran Malone said the council did not expect to receive guidance on this issue from the Department of Transport until September. Therefore, the promised introduction of the new limit could be pushed back to next year.

Mr Malone said a review of the system would be conducted before the end of the summer.

Area Engineer Barry Murphy said the one-way system had definitely eased congestion. It also gave priority to pedestrians, and it was faster for drivers to get through the town. The introduction of the new lower speed limit due to come into force late this year or next year would also add to the safety aspect.

Cllr Morgan Walsh and Cllr JP O’ Meara called for speed reduction measures to be put in place in Ormond Street. They said people crossing the road in the area were in danger due to speeding cars and lorries.