Plans to transform a 19th century square in Templemore, Co Tipperary, have been met with major opposition from local groups and traders.
The plan, described as "yellow-pack town planning" by Fine Gael councillor Pauline Coonan, was adopted at a monthly meeting of Templemore Town Council on Monday night. The casting vote of the mayor of Templemore, Mick Connell, was required to ensure the plan went through.
A local opposition group, Save Our Templemore Square, has reacted angrily to the plan to transform the 19th century square into a "high-kerbed, H-block parking maze", and has vowed to fight the plan.
Ms Coonan said the plan had amazing similarities to the parking arrangement in Castleisland, Co Kerry, and accused local authorities and the NRA of "cloning towns" throughout the country.
"The plan was adopted under the Urban Renewal Scheme and smacks of yellow-pack planning.
"The minute I saw the initial plan for the square I said this is Castleisland, and sure enough the resemblance is striking. It is evidence of the systematic cloning of towns by the NRA and local authorities."
Ms Coonan, who is also the proprietor of a jewellery shop on the square, said local traders were up in arms over the plan. It would necessitate the uprooting of existing kerbing and trees to put in place a system that would be totally unacceptable to traders.
Councillors in favour of the plan defended their stance, saying it would enhance the town greatly and provide parking order in the square.
However, Ms Coonan said more than 1,000 signatures had been collected to highlight people's opposition to the plan.
"If this goes ahead it will destroy our beautiful, unique and historic square, and I believe it contravenes the county development plan."
Templemore town manager Matt Shortt said the plan had been formally adopted. However no work would start on the kerbing in the centre of the square until underground wirescaping and permanent and adequate off-street parking were secured.
He also confirmed that full consultation would take place with interested parties regarding parking in the centre of the square, and confirmed that there would be a minimal loss to parking in the centre of the square.
Meanwhile, the Save Our Templemore Square group has organised a meeting for Thursday night in Foley's Hotel to discuss mounting protests to the plan.