Call to council to analyse impact of new housing grant scheme on Carrick-on-Suir parking

An action group has asked how Carrick-on-Suir County Council can be satisfied Carrick-on-Suir has sufficient parking spaces to cater for an increase in new homes arising from the Vacant Above the Shop Grant Scheme when it hasn’t conducted analysis of its potential traffic and parking impact.

The Main Street Business Initiative has posed the question and called on the Council to conduct this analysis as it’s concerned there isn’t sufficient parking in Carrick town centre to accommodate the extra vehicles owned by residents of any new apartments created with the help of this new grant.

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The group comprising a mix of traders, property owners and tenants on Carrick’s Main Street and some adjoining streets is campaigning to save more than 20 parking spaces on Main Street that are to be axed under the Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration Scheme.

Its concern about the parking implications arising from new residential premises created in Carrick thanks to the new Vacant Over the Shop Grant arises from a report in The Nationalist detailing a discussion about the scheme at Carrick Municipal District’s December meeting.

At the meeting, Cllr Kieran Bourke welcomed the scheme but had one concern about where the parking facilities will be in Carrick-on-Suir for the extra residents.

Carrick MD Director of Services Brian Beck responded that a full analysis of on-street parking hadn’t been done but given the number of properties they were talking about, the Council was satisfied there will be enough parking spaces to cater for the increase.

He said he wasn’t expecting huge numbers of extra residential properties arising from the scheme. If the Council received between 5 and 15 applications for Carrick-on-Suir he would be satisfied. 

The MBI argued that even if the scheme is “modest in absolute scale” it is reasonable to expect a written traffic impact assessment analysing how new residents are likely to divide their parking between off-street car parks and on-street spaces near their homes, estimate the extra turning movements, service calls and short stay visits and confront the question of whether more vehicles will be sent circling in search of a space.

“Traffic burdens do not arrive in a single dramatic wave; they creep in by degrees through small increments that cumulatively transform the experience of a street,” said the action group.

The MBI also took issue with a comment Mr Beck made at a meeting about many town centre properties having under utilised yards that could be used for parking. The group argued that "in many older streets such yards are cramped, irregular and served by narrow lanes never intended for motor traffic” . 

“Any proposal that channels additional cars through the rear of town centre plots, that opens new accesses onto Main Street or widens those that exist inherently raises questions of road and pedestrian safety.”

Tipperary County Council responded by stressing that each application under the Vacant Above the Shop Grant Scheme will be assessed individually and on its specific merits.

“This includes consideration of parking, access, and any other relevant planning or transportation matters applicable to the particular property.

“While the principles of national and local policy support town centre living in general, no proposal will advance without the appropriate level of assessment and due diligence.

“The Council is committed to the ongoing support of our towns, its people and the business community in these towns and to ensuring that town centre initiatives are implemented in a responsible and evidence based manner.”

The Council said the Vacant Above the Shop Grant Scheme was an “important element” of national government policy and its town centre regeneration strategy.

“National policy places a strong emphasis on compact growth, revitalising existing town cores, and supporting the conversion oEXT:f vacant upper floor spaces into high quality residential accommodation.

“This approach aims to deliver housing, restore vibrancy, increase footfall, and strengthen the long term economic and social sustainability of our town centres. The County Development Plan is fully aligned with these objectives, and the scheme represents a significant opportunity to deliver meaningful renewal and regeneration,” it added.

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