Progress being made on multiple projects that will improve Tullamore

A pedestrian crossing near the Kilbeggan Bridge on Convent View which was removed during work on the urban greenway is to be reinstated, a meeting of Tullamore Municipal District heard.

Engineer Joe Dooley told Councillor Declan Harvey that the crossing will be moved nearer the bridge. Convent View was completed in December with the exception of wire rope fencing which has yet to be put in place.

Mr Dooley said work on the urban greenway at Kilbride Park is continuing but it has been hampered by the weather and everything is taking ''five times as long''.

The ESB is to drop the cables on January 13, there will be no road closures but people will ''see a presence,'' he said.

The Tanyard to High Street Link was delayed due to issues with cables. However, good progress has been made and the estimated completion date is the second quarter of this year.

Meanwhile granite paving which was removed outside Eugene's Bar and down along the footpath on William Street, will be reinstated and the footpath will be widened. Councillor Sean O'Brien said people had been asking about it and hoping the footpath would be restored.

The sale of two properties on Church Street was finalised in December which will allow progress on the O'Connor Square to Church Street Link. Mr Dooley said councillors would be able to peruse documents at the next meeting and the project will then go out to Part 8 public consultation.

The council is working with the new owner of the Copper Pot Still on High Street in relation to Meath Lane which is to be opened up and allow for a pedestrian access to the Esker Arts Centre.

The Council is also ready to appoint contractors for Connolly Park and Lloyd Town Park Playgrounds. Funding of 80k and 60k respectively has been allocated for work on these.

A footbridge at Spollenstown is still under review by Iarnrod Eireann and it is expected to be well into the year before that is approved.

Bus shelters for Clara have been approved. There was some confusion over bus shelters for Tubber. However, Cathaoirleath, Councillor Frank Moran said the tender documents were ready to go out and the project would begin in March of this year. Mr Dooley said he has to discuss it with the new Senior Executive Engineer, John Mitchell.

A safety audit and tender documents are being prepared and a safety audit is taking place for work on the Whitehall bridge which will see a one-way system introduced.

Councillor Neil Feighery welcomed all the work but noted that it was very Tullamore-centric with the exception of Clara.

He asked what was happening in relation to regeneration of rural villages. He said there was a lot of money coming into the county.