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Roads & Traffic

Functions

 

Public Roads

A public road means a road over which a public right of way exists and the responsibility for the maintenance of which lies on a road authority.  The maintenance of a public road includes the provision and maintenance of public lighting.

The definition of “road” includes

(a) any street, lane, foothpath, square, court, alley or passage

(b) any bridge, viaduct, underpass, subway, tunnel, overpass, overbridge, flyover, carriageway (whether single or multiple), pavement or footpath

(c) any weighbridge or other facility for the weighing or inspection of vehicles, toll plaza or other facility for the collection of tolls, service area, emergency telephone, first aid post, culvert, arch, gulley, railing, fence, wall, barrier, guard-rail, margin, kerb, lay-by, hard shoulder, island, pedestrian refuge, median, central reserve, channelliser, roundabout, gantry, pole, ramp, bollard, pipe, wire, cable, sign, signal or lighting forming part of the road.

 

Classification of Roads

National Secondary Roads


N62 – Clongour, Slievenamon Road, Liberty Square, O’Donovan Rossa Street, Smith O’Brien Street, Brittas Road
N75 – Dublin Road, Kickham Street, Cathedral Street, Liberty Square

Regional Roads

R498 – Parnell Street, Parnell Park , Castlemeadows
R659 – Fianna Road, Stradavoher, Cabra Road
R660- Westgate, Friar Street, Abbey Road

Local Roads

All other roads in the town including the road network in housing estates are local roads and the Town Council is responsible for their improvement and maintenance.  There is an arrangement in place whereby North Tipperary County Council undertake all work on local roads in Thurles and recoup the costs incurred from the Town Council

 

Declare a road public

The road must be of general public utility and a public right of way must exist over the road. The road authority must consider the financial implications of taking on responsibility for an additional public road and must consider any objections or representations made by the public. Roads built by a local authority are held to be public roads when their construction is intended for use by the general public. Therefore, unless the road authority decides otherwise, all roads constructed by it automatically become public roads thus eliminating the need for a formal declaration process.

Abandon a public road

The power to abandon local roads is devolved to the local authority but any order to abandon a national or regional road must be approved by the minister who in turn must consult with the NRA. before making a decision affecting a national road. Once a road has been abandoned the road authority is no longer responsible for its maintenance but the abandonment does not affect the public right of way over the road which continues to exist.

Extinguish a Public Right of Way

This power is devolved to the elected members subject to the approval of the Minister where the extinguishment applies over a national or regional road. In the case of a national road the minister must consult with the NRA.

Parking

Thurles Town Council has provided off street car parks at Cathedral Street (The Source), Parnell Street, Friar Street, Slievenamon Road, Liberty Square and Cathedral Street(Munster Hotel).  Pay and Display parking is in operation on the streets and in the Car Parks from 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Saturday.
The following schedule of charges apply for 2007 :-

Applications can be made to the Town Council Office at 0504 21433 for the following:

Designated spaces for disabled parking have been provided and are clearly marked. Signage has been erected indicating the operational times.

Fixed Charge

Failure to comply with the Road Traffic (Traffic & Parking) Regulations or the Traffic & Parking Bye-laws is an offence and may result in the imposition of an fixed charge by the traffic wardens or the Gardai.  The main offences for which a Fixed Charge may be imposed are:

  1. Standing a street service vehicle for hire at a place which is not an appointed stand
  2. Failing to bring an omnibus wholly within roadway markings at a stopping place/stand
  3. Parking a vehicle wholly of partly within roadway markings at an omnibus stopping place/stand
  4. Parking a vehicle in a place prohibited
  5. Parking vehicle at a time prohibited
  6. Parking a vehicle for a time prohibited
  7. Parking a vehicle in a manner prohibited
  8. Parking a vehicle in a parking place in which parking is subject to the payment of fees without paying the specified fee.
  9. Parking a vehicle in a parking place in which is subject to the payment of fees without paying the specified fee (a) at the time (b) in the manner specified.
  10. Parking a vehicle other than a vehicle of a specified class.
  11. Parking a vehicle in a ticket-parking place without displaying a valid parking ticket.
  12. Stopping on a ‘Clearway’
  13. Failing to display a current Road Fund Licence.
  14. Parking a vehicle in a disabled persons parking bay without displaying a valid disabled persons

 

Public Lighting

Funding for the maintenance and improvement of public lighting on local roads is provided by the Town Council. The ESB is contracted to supply the power, maintain the system and install new lights if required. Operating costs are in the region of €55,000.00 per year.  Faults on the public lighting system should be reported to the Town Council Office at 0504 21433.

Hedge/Tree cutting

Section 70 of the 1993 Roads Act obliges landowners and occupiers of land to take all reasonable care to ensure that structures, trees, hedges and other vegetation on their land are not or could not become a danger to people using or working on a public road. Notices are issued to offenders by the Council each year. Under the Wildlife Act hedges are not allowed to be cut between the dates of 1 March until 31 August.

Temporary Closure of Roads

From time to time it will be necessary for roads to be temporarily closed to facilitate road works, water and sewerage schemes, events, etc.
Public notice of the roads to be closed and alternative  the routes available during the course of the closure is given through advertisement in the local press.

Safety on the Roads
Thurles Town Council in conjunction with the North Tipperary County Council and the Road Safety Authority, is committed to promoting and creating awareness of all aspects of road safety.
The three main causes of death and injury on Irish roads are speeding, drink driving and non-wearing of seat belts.

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