‘Token gesture’ on roads

Tipperary Co Council's adoption of a controversial new policy to focus spending on rural roads has been described by a local councillor as a “token gesture” but also a “step in the right direction”.

Councillors this week agreed to adopt a policy that will see €1.27 million of “town monies” diverted to repairing some of the worst roads in the county, the majority of which are in rural areas. Seen as a significant departure from previous policy, the new operation will see investment targeted at Tipperary's “Red Roads”, those rated 1-4 in the new Pavement Surface Condition Index (PSCI).

Councillors remained somewhat divided on the policy, the decision on which was deferred to this week from their May meeting following an intense debate on the matter. A number of discussions had taken place in the interim and a number of changes were made to the proposal.

The council executive clarified that town monies would be spent on Red-classified roads within the municipal district that they were originally allocated to.

The new policy would be reviewed in three years. It would be capped at a maximum 6.5% increase per year and, to ensure consistency, all PSCI surveys countywide would in future be undertaken by one entity.

NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE

While Nenagh Municipal District councillors were generally supportive of the new policy, representatives from the south of the county voiced concerns about it. Cllr Richie Molloy alluded to a perceived division between north and south Tipperary that persists despite the amalgamation of the local authorities in 2014.

“There is a huge perception here in the south that the north of the county dictates everything,” Cllr Molloy said, though he welcomed the efforts to find compromise on the new policy.

Cllr Pat English wanted the council to commit to restoring town funding in 2024, rather than reviewing the policy then.

In support, Cllr David Dunne wanted the policy ended in the event of the council suffering any significant economic setback in the next three years. He said he would support the policy with a “heavy heart”, as he still had “major reservations about taking money out of towns”.

Cllr Kieran Bourke was among those who said he could not support any policy that took money from towns when there are roads in urban areas that need funding.

Cllr Séamie Morris said the situation is another consequence of the abolition of town councils in 2014. He added that the idea that rural roads are in a worse condition than urban roads is not correct when it comes to housing estates.

Cllr Morris asked the council to write to the Department seeking extra funding for roads in estates that have been taken in charge, especially those that are more than 10 years old.

‘GREAT DAY’ FOR RURAL PEOPLE

Cllr Michael O'Meara welcomed the new policy as “a great day for people who live in rural areas”. Having long campaigned for extra funding for roads in Lower Ormond - which has a high concentration of Red-classed routes - Cllr O'Meara described the amount of money that would be spent on these roads as “minuscule”.

“Really, it's only a token gesture,” Cllr O'Meara said of the new policy. “But it shows the maturity of this council that we can work hand in glove together... this is a small step in the right direction.”

Cllr John Carroll said preventative maintenance of roads infrastructure would have to form part of the policy, a point picked up on by Director of Services Marcus O'Connor, who also agreed that drainage would have to prioritised in order to increase the longevity of road works.

Mr O'Connor said the new policy would continue after three years or another policy would be adopted by the council of 2024 ahead of the next three-year Roadworks Programme. He also confirmed that the scheme could be discontinued in the event of economic setback.

The director added that there has been progress with taking estates in charge and these roads can be included in the Roadworks Programme if their condition merits.

Executive Engineer James Murray made the point that no road in the county would be left out of the policy. Funding would be allocated to all roads in accordance with their PSCI rating.

Concluding the discussion, CEO Joe MacGrath appreciated that the issue has proven difficult for many councillors and that it represented a shift in policy for the council. Having met with the Clonmel district councillors, Mr MacGrath welcomed the widespread engagement on the issue and settlement on a policy that would be reviewed in three years to take account of the condition of roads then.

The policy was thereby formally adopted.