Council vows to revive stalled plans for popular Tipperary park after two-year delay
Councillors have questioned the future of long-awaited plans to redesign The Plan in Tipperary town after it emerged the project has yet to reach the planning stage.
Tipperary County Council announced plans to redesign The Plan in 2024.
Architects were appointed to draw up plans for the area, which sits in the west end of the town, just off the busy Limerick Road.
Proposed designs for the area would see the refurbishment of the existing bandstand, alterations to the boundary wall of the park, new raised flower beds, new pedestrian crossings, landscaping, seats, and lights, as well as the installation of a water feature.
A public consultation meeting held at the time saw concerns raised by local residents, with many people not on board with the plans.
The issue was raised following an email from West End Residents Association chairperson Siobhan Landers. At the July meeting of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District, Cathaoirleach Cllr Marie Murphy asked council engineers for an update on the project.
“I know where The Plan is but I’m not familiar with the area, but I am aware that a few years ago, we did have a Part 8 process going through on that, did that go through or what’s the update on that?” Cllr Murphy asked.
Council engineers confirmed that the Part 8 planning process has not yet begun.
“It’s gone through pre-planning, there’s a number of comments from the pre-planners and it’s sitting at that for the moment,” he said.
“We’ve had difficulty in engaging with the design team on that too, but we just need to follow that process through,” the meeting was told.
Cllr Murphy asked if the council was proposing to move the plans forward.
“I believe there was problems at the time, was it that residents weren’t too happy with the proposals?” she asked.
District director Damien Ginty said that there had been a consultation with the residents, but that feedback gathered was being incorporated into the design.
“We took the feedback, we’re currently engaging with the design team, but it is our intention to finalise the design and the consultation process with you as a group of elected members and proceed to Part 8 for public consultation with a view to getting planning consent in place,” Mr Ginty explained.
Once planning permission is granted, the council would seek funding for the project, he added.