€13m funding boost for major Tipperary regeneration projects
The long-awaited funding will be “transformative” for Clonmel, local representatives have said.
€7.5million has been allocated for phase one of the Clonmel Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration Scheme, while a further €5.6million has been allocated to the Parkes Chemist project.
The public realm project will cover from O’Connell Street in the town to the Main Guard, as well as Mitchell Street, Abbey Street and Bank Lane.
For the Parkes Chemist project, a new public space will be created, as well as a museum to celebrate the town’s history.
The funding comes from the Government’s Towns and Cities Regeneration Scheme.
Fine Gael TD for South Tipperary Micheal Murphy said that the money will enable Clonmel to develop into the future.
“This funding is a huge boost to Clonmel, which is somewhere we all want to be able to congregate in, whether it’s to go shopping, meet friends or family or just visit to absorb the daily activity,” he said.
“We all want to see regeneration in our own communities and to provide spaces that are safe and attractive for people from all generations to gather and enjoy,” the Fine Gael TD added.
Over €5million in funding has been allocated to a project at the former Parkes Chemist. © Google Maps
Also welcoming the news was the Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Siobhán Ambrose, who said that the people of Clonmel had been waiting years for this funding to come to fruition.
“We’re the only town in the county that only has one fund we can apply to, and this is it. About three years ago, myself and Cllr Richie Molloy were the only ones who voted for an increase in commercial rates, which was a very difficult thing to do.
“But this has meant that we could raise the match funding that would be required for this type of funding,” Cllr Ambrose explained.
“The businesspeople of Clonmel are delighted, people are delighted, and I want to thank the staff of Tipperary County Council too.”
The Mayor of Clonmel said that for years, the town has watched other towns across the country get funding allocations like this, and questioned when their time would come.
“We have been delighted for them, but we have looked exasperated at other towns getting funding when we didn’t get anything for many, many years.
“It will be transformative for the town and it comes on the back of the garda station, the investment in the hospital, and Kickham Barracks,” she added.
Elsewhere in the county, €130,000 has been allocated to Nenagh for the regeneration of the Sarsfield Street backlands, while €150,000 will to towards to Thurles for an age-friendly community fitness hub in the town.
North Tipperary TD Ryan O’Meara said that the funding for Nenagh will create more parking for the town centre.
“The backlands of Sarsfield Street have now been acquired by Tipperary County Council and the funding being announced will allow for planning, and design and ultimately the extension of the St John’s Lane Car Park,” he said.
The announcement marked a “good day” for the town, Deputy O’Meara added.