Move Nenagh’s bus stop

Nenagh and District Chamber of Commerce has invited the Minister for Transport to visit Nenagh and see for himself the problems at the new bus stop location on Pearse St.

Chamber President Deirdre Keller has written to Minister Darragh O’Brien in an attempt to reinvigorate the years-long campaign to create an integrated transport hub at Nenagh Railway Station. This goal, which is supported by Tipperary Co Council, has been opposed by the National Transport Authority, which remains of the view that the railway site is too far away from the town centre for the development of such a hub.

Writing to the minister last week, Ms Keller said she and her fellow members of the chamber wished to express their “serious concerns” regarding the Pearse St bus stop, which was created as part of the new one-way traffic management plan for Nenagh.

“The original proposal to locate the principal bus stop at Nenagh Railway Station received widespread support from Tipperary Co Council, local residents and the business community,” she wrote. “The station, situated at the end of Kenyon Street, provides a spacious and practical location that is ideally suited to accommodate bus services while minimising disruption to traffic and the daily operation of the town.”

‘REASONABLE DISTANCE’

The council met with the minister’s predecessor, Eamon Ryan, to discuss the railway hub proposal on three occasions. He considered its location, cited at approximately 500 metres, as too far from the town centre.

“As people who live, work and do business in Nenagh every day, we respectfully disagree,” Ms Keller told Minister O’Brien. “A five-minute walk is a reasonable distance and is common in towns throughout Ireland where integrated transport systems operate successfully.

“The current location is at one of the busiest junctions in Nenagh and is creating significant problems. Buses stopping there regularly cause traffic congestion, delays and unnecessary vehicle emissions. More importantly, they frequently obstruct the visibility of the pedestrian crossing, creating a genuine safety risk for pedestrians, particularly children, older people and those with reduced mobility.”

‘UNWELCOMING ENVIRONMENT’

“The impact on neighbouring businesses is equally concerning,” Ms Keller continued. “Large groups of passengers often congregate directly outside shop entrances while waiting for buses.

“During poor weather they understandably seek shelter in doorways, restricting customer access and creating an unwelcoming environment for shoppers. This is having a measurable impact on businesses that rely on convenient and safe access for customers and is undermining the vitality of the town centre.

“Relocating the bus stop to Nenagh Railway Station would provide a long-term solution. It would create a genuine transport hub where passengers could transfer easily between bus and rail services, encourage greater use of public transport, reduce congestion within the town centre and provide adequate space for a modern bus shelter and improved passenger facilities - features that cannot realistically be accommodated at the current location.

“The chamber fully supports investment in public transport. Our request is not to oppose bus services, but to ensure they are located where they best serve passengers, businesses and the wider community while improving safety and traffic management.

“On behalf of the Nenagh and District Chamber of Commerce, I respectfully invite you to visit Nenagh to view both locations firsthand and meet with representatives of the chamber,” the president wrote to Minister O’Brien. “We would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate why the railway station represents the most practical, safest and future-proof location for the town's principal bus stop.”

The letter was accompanied by photographs of the problematic bus stop.

The Department of Transport was asked to comment on the Nenagh chamber’s letter. A spokesperson stated this week: "The department and the NTA are committed to ensuring that public transport infrastructure is safe, accessible and effective for all passengers, in line with commitments made in the Programme for Government. Decisions regarding location, relocation or removal of bus stops are made following careful consideration of a range of factors such as passenger interchange, safety, accessibility and road alignment, among others."