O'Connor Square pedestrianisation could have a devastating effect

The proposed pedestrianisation of O’Connor Square will have an adverse affect on business in the centre of Tullamore.

That’s according to local businesses, which have launched a campaign to get the council to alter its plans to redevelop the square as part of its €3m enhancement scheme for the town centre. The group’s main concern is that the proposed removal of almost all of the square’s 52 parking spaces is a central feature in each of the council’s four design options.

“We believe that there should be an option out there that meets the needs of the people of Tullamore,” Mark Gallagher of Gray Cunniffe Insurances told the Offaly Independent.

“While we are trying to keep parking in the square, at the same time we’re not against its redevelopment. We would very much welcome the enhancement programme.

“We’ve had our own studies done that have shown that there are approximately 1500 car movements in and out of the square every day. This indicates that the square is part of a critical arterial route for the town. Also, if you look at the services that people are able to avail of by having car parking in the square; you have the post office, the library, legal services, medical services and banking. Having parking provides ease of access to these facilities.”

Mr Gallagher says that between O’Connor Square and the Tanyard over 50 business will be affected if the council goes ahead with its plans to remove car parking spaces. He says that the businesses have “four red line issues” that they want the council to address.

“We believe that a fifth option could be put together that include the four things we’re looking for. The first is that O’Connor Square maintains no fewer than 40 car parking spaces. Second, is that we are asking the council to commit to an alternative access route to the Tanyard before the local elections in 2019. Third is that before any work commences businesses in the square and Tanyard are consulted about a traffic management plan. Also the fourth is that O’Connor Square maintains its two way traffic route.”

Mr Gallagher says that the business group believes that if the redevelopment is done in the correct way O’Connor Square could become a “multi-functional space” that both retains its parking spaces and could also be closed off for events when needed.

“This is not just for ourselves as business owners, we believe this is a town centre issue...This could have a devastating effect across the entire town centre. Everyone is saying that the town centre needs to be reinvigorated because a lot of business has moved to outside the town, but this will exacerbate the problem.”