OVERGROWTH along the River Walk in Shannon Town is hindering outsiders from partaking in the weekly Park Run, an elected representative has claimed.
Calls for Clare County Council’s environmental section to put in place a regular maintenance contract to maintain the River Walk were made by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) at a recent sitting of the Shannon Municipal District. He said that other recreation facilities used by the public in the area should also be included in this maintenance work.
He stated, “The current maintenance arrangements are more reactive to complaints rather than a strategic approach to the regular maintenance of public facilities”.
Senior executive engineer, Tom Mellett explained that the maintenance of public realm areas under the Council’s control falls within the remit of the MD offices. He outlined, “Shannon Municipal District Office has been carrying out maintenance along the river walk and is exploring ways to improve on current practice. Significant works have taken place in recent months through the outdoor recreation infrastructure fund and this office is committed to continually exploring ways to further enhance this popular amenity”.
“This is a bigger issue, it needs to be tackled from a resources point of view,” Cllr Flynn responded. He recalled the “successful” facilities implemented by the Council during the pandemic. “Maintenance is one of the biggest issues troubling public representatives, they see us as the face of Clare County Council and they get vexed with us”.
Informing the meeting that she volunteers at the River Walk “most Saturdays with the Park Run,,” Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said organisers have “been applauding the work done which has been great for them but they can’t get people outside of Shannon in because of the overgrowth”.
