Old, vandalised signs at Tipperary amenity prompt calls for upgrade
Calls have been made to update outdated signage at the Tipperary Hills to ensure dog owners are aware of the rules, a local councillor has said.
At the April meeting of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District (MD), Fine Gael councillor John Crosse tabled a motion calling on the council to add some new signage to the Hills in Tipperary town.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Crosse said that the vast majority of dog owners using the amenity were responsible, but added that the signage that’s currently there is years old.
“99.9pc of the people using the Hills are very responsible about their dogs and controlling their dogs, but unfortunately there’s always one,” Cllr Crosse said.
"From the point of view of the signs up there – and I know other members are involved in this as well – but sometimes when signs are there for so long, people become lax. I don’t know what the best approach is, but maybe something a bit more eye-catching or that has a bit more visual impact for people who are using the amenity for the first time could be considered.”
Seconding the motion, Sinn Féin councillor Annemarie Ryan said the existing signs are so old they still display an outdated council phone number.
"We met with the dog warden last week, with the Tipperary Tidy Towns group and he actually pointed out the signage is so old it has the old 076 number on it,” Cllr Ryan said.
“There’s spray paint on it and everything, and we’re starting a campaign on cleaning up after your dog in the Hills but there’s a few issues with the signage.
"If the council could look at the signage up there, and put up some new signs, the standard ones that the council uses because that one is very, very old,” Cllr Ryan added.
The Tipperary Hills, known locally as the Hills, has undergone significant investment in recent years, having gotten funding of €500,000 under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
A further €125,000 was given to the upgrade project from Tipperary County Council which helped to fund new, wider footpaths, improved landscaping, improvements to a playing pitch, and a new set of stairs leading to the top of the Norman motte, aiming to increase inclusivity. A new dog run was also added.