Tipperary Town Chamber/TIRD, March4Tipp and Jobs4Tipp have joined forces to push for Ring Road for the town. Part of that campaign is to challenge every Tipperary General Election Candidate as to whether they would support a Ring Road, if elected. Following on from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael already endorsing the need for a Ring Road, there was strong support and a very clear commitment from two key independent TDs, Michael Lowry and Mattie McGrath.
The three groups met with Miichael Lowry TD (Independent), and Mattie McGrath TD (Independent). Both candidates gave strong support for a ring road for Tipperary Town.
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“I have been very active in supporting and delivering a number of initiatives in Tipperary Town, including the historic creation of a Task Force to deal with a very wide range of issues facing the town. I was also delighted to be able to assist the schools in securing an interim range of measures that align with those provided under the DEIS programme. I continue to press for full DEIS status for the schools, something I believe that they fully deserve. I believe that a Ring Road is essential for the town. It would rid the town of an enormous volume of traffic every day and generate new life for a town that needs and deserves it. If I am re-elected to Dáil Éireann, I will work very hard to deliver a Ring Road for Tipperary Town and continue to support the town and its hinterland in every way I can." |
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"If elected to Dail Eireann I give a solemn commitment to work with all groups and represent them to seek funding urgently to design and construct a Ring Road. I will be demanding that money will be made available as soon as possible." |
The three organisations are working to rid the town of the 50,000 vehicle movements that the N24 brings every week. Not only does the traffic bring harmful health effects with particulate and Nitrogen Dioxide air pollution, but noise pollution levels measured in the town are well above WHO limits. There is also a massive economic impact on the town as shoppers are put off by the difficulty in parking and moving around the town centre.
A bypass has been proposed, but this is in with 21 other projects in the National Development Plan, most of which are of a much higher priority politically. In any event, it would take 10 to 15 years to build a bypass from Cahir to Limerick Junction and the three organisations are demanding a ring road as a solution that can be delivered much more quickly and at a lower cost.
