Emmet Square BIRR PUBLIC REALM

Emmet Square Enhancement Proposal PUBLIC MEETING 3 RD MARCH 2014

Public Realm Plan for Birr - 2009

Birr visit to Westport in 2011 Tidy Towns winner 2001, 2006, 2008

Westport Best Place to Live 2012

Camcor River Walk - 2011

Castle Street

Tullamore Road before & after

Tullamore Road Arts Feature

Cornmarket Gateway - before

Cornmarket Gateway before & after 2013

Enticing Tourists to Town Centre

Ramp - Before & After - 2013

Tidy Towns Report - 2013 Overall Development Approach: On several visits (not as adjudicator) in the past, the present adjudicator was constantly puzzled that Birr, with its wealth of fine buildings, historical sites and charming landscapes, was not doing so well in this competition - there seemed to be an absence of ambition and entrepreneurial skill. That seems to have changed,

Tidy Towns Report - 2013 General Impression: Birr is aptly designated a Heritage Town and the description is most appropriate. There is a distinct feeling that the townspeople are now appreciating its charms better than they used to. This must undoubtedly be due in great part to the work of the Tidy Towns committee along with a particularly advanced Local Authority, as well as to a supportive business community.

Community Meeting 6 th November 2012

Midland Tribune - 7 th March 2013

Midland Tribune -11 th July 2013

Midland Tribune -15 th August 2013

Presentation to Interested Parties 12 th November 2013

General Agreement reported from Meeting on 12 th November 2013

Part VIII Notice - 15 th November 2013

Part VIII Adopted 13 th January 2014

Surprise - 23 rd January

Project Design Team ARCHITECT Peter Lyons Kenny Lyons Architects ENGINEER Jason Redmond Jason Redmond and Associates Consulting Engineers QUANTITY SURVEYOR Peter Turley - Michael Turley and associates Quantity Surveyors

Emmet Square Background In 2008 Birr Town Council initiated a Public Realm Plan for Birr town Birr Town Council have completed many public realm improvements over the past 3 years since the completion of the plan The proposed reconfiguration of Emmet Square is derived from the Birr Public Realm Plan and has the potential to be perhaps the most significant improvement from the plan. October 2013- Design Team appointed to review the existing situation and develop proposals

Emmet Square Public Realm Review Emmet Square with its Doric Column erected in 1746 originally supporting a statue of the Duke of Cumberland Renamed Emmet Square in 1922 in commemoration of the execution of Robert Emmet 1778-1803 "When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then and not till then, let my epitaph be written", R. Emmet

Emmet Square Public Realm Plan

Emmet Square Public Realm Review The Public Realm Plan for Birr Town has recognised the importance of the square and includes a section on the reordering of the public space in the square The refurbishment of the Cumberland Column is the first project for the square completed under the plan. Discussions and proposals commenced in early 2013 for the re-ordering of the Square.

Emmet Square Public Realm Review The figure ground map of Birr Town shows how centrally located the main car parks are in the Town With the largest car parks in the more densely built up zones

Emmet Square Public Realm Review The figure ground map of also shows how clearly defined Emmet Square is as a focal element within the town plan

Emmet Square Public Realm Review However this is not the case in reality

Emmet Square Public Realm Review A visitor to Birr is confronted with a space completely given over to motor vehicles with A National Secondary Road carving through the space Three exits off the N52 Motor routes passing through all 4 exits of the space And virtually all remaining space given over to parking. Poor eye level visibility to the main street for motorists

Emmet Square Public Realm Review Emmet Square has been allowed to become a Car park surrounded by buildings There is no Public Space

Traffic and Parking Design Input Presented by Jason Redmond B Eng Eur ING P Grad Dip Proj Man. P Grad Dip Highways and Geotech CEng MIEI Chartered Engineer

Existing Traffic Situation Baseline study of the existing traffic was completed Initial traffic counts provided by Birr Town Council from 30 th May and 28 th June 2013 Independent traffic counts carried out by Chartered Engineer over two days by JRA on 15 th & 16 th October 2013

Existing Traffic Situation Peak hour recorded traffic occurred in AM peak during school term (15 th October 2013) There are four road access points to the Square. The two way traffic flow recorded for each are as follows East (Roscrea Road) 1039 veh. per hour (41%) North (Tullamore Road) 844 veh. per hour (33.5%) East (The Green) 451 veh. per hour (18%) South (Main Street) 183 veh. per hour (7%) Total peak 2 way veh. movements through all four = 2517

Existing Traffic Situation It can be seen that the N52 through flow far outweighs the other two access points- 6500 vehicles per day. The Green flow is substantial in AM peak particularly. In particular the left turn off the N52 up The Green had 261 Veh/hour Right turn movement from The Green to N52 was 80 Veh/hour The traffic flows are indicated diagrammatically on the next slide

Traffic Safety Currently there are three two way access points from the south side of the square to the N52. These are all within 35m approx Arrangement is confusing to drivers in terms of priority and proximity of junctions. Particularly to drivers new to the arrangement (tourists etc.) 10% of cars from The Green turning onto N52 turned back down towards main street. This introduces two unnecessary right turn manoeuvres onto the N52. The Green junction to N52 is currently too wide. During the two day traffic survey a number of dangerous manoeuvres and near misses were noted primarily due to turns on and off the N52

Car Parking A detailed survey of the car park usage within the square was carried out The surveys were completed at different times including early, mid morning, lunchtime, mid afternoon and early evening. 22 counts were taken and the average car parking usage was 38 The peak parking requirement was found to be 60 at 3.35pm on a Friday Evening Excluding the Friday evening peak the car park usage peaked at 44 A car parking usage plan has been prepared showing the car usage demand by location.

Date Day Time Customer Parking Filled Parking Survey Data 23/10/13 Wed 3.30pm 37 23/10/13 Wed 4.45pm 32 4/11/13 Mon 12.30pm 27 4/11/13 Mon 3.40pm 32 4/11/13 Mon 6.15pm 22 5/11/13 Tue 12.30pm 40 5/11/13 Tue 3.30pm 43 6/11/13 Wed 12.35pm 39 6/11/13 Wed 3.30pm 31 6/11/13 Wed 10.55am 41 7/11/13 Thur 12.35pm 34 7/11/13 Thu 3.45pm 37 8/11/13 Fri 12.30pm 39 8/11/13 Fri 3.35pm 60 1/11/13 Mon 9.35am 39 4/12/13 Wed 11.30am 41 21/12/13 Sat 4.42pm 39 26/2/14 Wed 11.50am 43 26/2/14 Wed 12.45pm 39 26/2/14 Wed 3.45pm 41 27/2/14 Thu 12.45pm 36 28/2/14 Fri 12.45pm 44

Car parking Usage Schematic

Summary of Traffic and Parking Input from Chamber of Commerce and Local Representatives on Previous Schemes Car parking numbers are a priority Turning curves to be examined Circulation of parking traffic to be functional and avoid confusion and congestion Clarity on traffic priority Right turn to and from The Green is essential Bus Parking should remain in the Square

Proposed New Arrangement for Emmet Square

Traffic and Parking Advantages of proposed new arrangement Single junction access off N52 provides a simple and safe junction access which avoids confusion. Operating at only 30% of its capacity. Attractive for passing cars on N52 to turn into an well laid out town square Arrangement caters for larger volume N52 traffic and The Green Traffic safely and smoothly whilst creating a more pedestrian/shopper friendly south side of the square. One way traffic arrangement allows for direct access from The Green to Main street without having to re-enter N52 traffic. Parking traffic can circulate in an anti clockwise direction without much congestion or right turning manoeuvres across N52 Properly aligned safe and convenient parking arrangement which faces shops and avoids pedestrians crossing the carriageway Two way traffic on The Green

Traffic and Parking Advantages of proposed new arrangement The new arrangement provides a parking solution with the following benefits 70 Emmet Square Parking Demand vs Provison Customer Parking Demand Parking Provision Easy access to all parking spaces 60 Spaces are facing towards the shops 50 Clear road markings to ensure all spaces are utilised Sufficient spaces to meet demand 95% of the time (21 of 22 surveys) 40 30 20 Quality of parking greatly improved 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Bus Parking No change to southbound buses - they will continue to pull in at the old post office. Northbound buses which do not currently have a formal parking bay will in future be able to turn into The Green and around the Plaza to set down in the bus bay at Dooleys Hotel. In fact buses in both directions can do this manoeuvre in addition to tour buses.

Emmet Square What it is What it could be

Emmet Square Possibilities So what could be done The traffic and parking proposals have provided solutions to make life easier in the square for motorists We now explore how life can be improved for the shoppers and Tourists and Residents of the Square The public space was explored in the Public Realm Plan. All 5 options push the public space shown in green to the centre or north side of the square But most of the shops and attractions are to the south side

Emmet Square Possibilities The most beneficial location for civic space is to the south side of the square but centrally located. A central space Is a focal point for visitors Allows access in all directions Is close to the shopping core of the town Is sunny all day

Emmet Square Possibilities Recreating the civic space will remove clutter from around the column and open up visibility across the square in all directions. This civic space can then become.

Emmet Square Possibilities A gateway to Main Street

Emmet Square Possibilities A space for festive celebrations

Emmet Square Possibilities A tourist space

Emmet Square Possibilities A green space

Emmet Square Possibilities A market space

Emmet Square Possibilities A dining space

Emmet Square The Benefits Less traffic conflict Easy access around the Square Access in all directions Parking orientated towards the shops Best balance between parking and attractive public space Sufficient parking to meet average demand Improved access to Dooley's Hotel car park A visible usable open space Increased footfall to Town centre

Emmet Square Part 8 Consultation process Part 8 Plan Submitted Dec 2013

Emmet Square Part 8 Consultation process Amendments Made following submissions Footpaths, kerbs and the civic space surfaces will be in a grey/black natural stone, preferably limestone. The raised shared surface will include grey limestone cobble or similar. Parking spaces will be grey paving blocks or similar. The design of the central civic space will be simple and uncluttered and will reflect the symmetry of Emmet Square. The main central paved area will be at one level. Vertical Elements will be omitted except lighting poles and bollards Trees should only be provided at the corners of the square. The species would require careful consideration. No changes are proposed to the current bus parking arrangements at the old post office quadrant of the square. The alignment of the kerbline around the civic space will be amended at Dooly s Hotel to ensure that large buses can pull into the set down space.

Emmet Square Facts-Parking The average parking requirement in Emmet Square is 38 car spaces On the Sat 21 st December 2013 at 4:30pm Christmas peak shopping time there were 39 cars parked in Emmet Square 27 of those were on the southern half of the square The new layout will provide 48 car spaces and 2 bus spaces with 25 of the car spaces on the southern side facing directly into the shops Currently there is only 1 bus parking space for southbound buses

Emmet Square Facts-Access 82% of cars entering south into Emmet Square pass directly through to Main Street with 18% parking in the square After 4pm when Bank of Ireland closes 90% of cars pass directly through to Main Street with only 10% parking in the square Yes there will be access from the N52 into Emmet Sq and Main St No change with access to The Green No change with access from Roscrea to Main St- Turn Left No change with access from Tullamore to Main St- Turn Right

Emmet Square "Vision is the art of seeing the invisible. Jonathan Swift

Emmet Square Possibilities So Visualise getting from here

Emmet Square Possibilities To here.

Existing & Proposed