An Post withdraws Tipperary parking plan amid residents’ concerns
An Post has withdrawn plans to develop additional parking spaces at one of their outlets in Tipperary town.
The company had applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to add extra parking spaces, as well as electric vehicle (EV) charging points next to the former post office on Grattan Street in Tipperary town.
The post office in the town relocated to an outlet in Bennett’s SuperValu in 2024, away from the Grattan Street site. However, An Post still uses the old post office building as a sorting office and parcel pick-up point.
The plans sought to create eight extra parking spaces for the facility, with three EV charging points.
Residents on Grattan Street and Davis Street welcomed the plans, but urged the local authority to consider the impact of the busy parcel depot on the area.
"With the relocation of An Post’s main consumer functions from Grattan Street to SuperValu, the Davis Street post office has effectively changed its primary function to that of a busy parcel depot serving the wider Tipperary county region,” a representative of the residents said.
The residents group say that as the town centre has changed, the Grattan Street and Davis Street areas have become less retail-focused, and now house more homes than shops.
"The enduring value of these streets to the town is as high quality residential amenity.
"The current depot imposes a significant burden on the normal residential functioning of the area. From as early as 5am on weekdays, vans are being loaded on the Davis and Grattan Street corner from the old front door of the post office,” the residents said.
The loading and unloading of vans so early causes residents “distress, sleep disturbance, and ongoing frustration,” the letter added.
Despite these concerns, the locals say they are supportive of the application for extra parking, asking Tipperary County Council that if planning permission is granted, a condition be added to ensure that An Post use the new space for loading and unloading.
"We respectfully request that the local planning authority condition any planning permission for new on-site parking to ensure that all loading and unloading of delivery vans be carried out within the existing yard or new parking area of the depot site, not on the public street.
The residents also asked that “any noise causing activities on the street be restricted to normal daytime operating hours, commencing no earlier than 8am.”
However, An Post have now chosen to withdraw the planning application, meaning it will no longer be considered by council planners.
No reason was given for the withdrawal. However, applications are often pulled to address design concerns or to avoid a likely refusal.