*Signage advising motorists of the pedestrianisation measures in Ennis.
ALTHOUGH the majority of elected members of the Ennis Municipal District voted in favour of reopening O’Connell Street to traffic on a full-time basis until road works commence, senior management of the District have refuted their call.
Motions were tabled by both Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) at the May sitting of the Ennis MD on the matter. Cllr Daly wished to see O’Connell St reopen to traffic until the street upgrade commences in September while Cllr Flynn requested a report on the recent public consultation “that led to the District Executive using its executive powers to make the decision to continue and extend the road closure of O Connell Street for a period of time when there is no road works”.
Temporary pedestrianisation was introduced in Ennis Town Centre from March 2020 to September 2021 to enable social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a pedestrianisation survey in October 2021, the Ennis MD advertised a temporary road closure to run from April 8th 2022 to March 19th 2023.
Senior executive officer in the Ennis MD, Leonore O’Neill stated, “It was clarified that the road closure would remain in place until the commencement of the Ennis Public Realm Works, which had been anticipated to commence in 2022. Unfortunately, the Ennis Public Realm works are awaiting final approval from the Department but are expected to commence during late summer 2023”.
With the previous road closure to expire, a new road closure for temporary pedestrianisation was advertised from the 20th March 2023 until the 7th January 2024 or until the commencement of the public realm works.
There were a total of 1,796 respondents to the pedestrianisation survey. Cherry picking some of the findings in her response, Ms O’Neill outlined that 71.2% of all respondents would like to see some form of pedestrianisation ‘immediately’, 20.3% in the ‘medium/long term dependent on provision of new infrastructure/service’ and 8.5% indicated ‘no-never’.
54 business owners completed the survey: 38.9% favoured introduction of pedestrianisation immediately, 24.1% in the medium to long term, 37% selected No/Never. 204 respondents were over 65 years of age: 67.6% favoured introduction of pedestrianisation immediately, 21.1% in the medium to long term, 11.3% selected No/Never. 102 respondents declared as ‘having mobility issues’. 47.1% favoured introduction of pedestrianisation immediately, 21.6% in the medium to long term, 31.4% selected No/Never.
Of those who indicated they would like to see some form of pedestrianisation (1,643 of 1,796), 44% would prefer ‘pedestrianisation 11-6, 7 days a week’, with a further 36.5% favouring ‘full-time pedestrianisation’.
€12,000 has been spent by the local authority installing signage at 34 locations on approach roads to the town centre advising motorists of the revised traffic and pedestrianisation arrangements.
Cllr Daly commented, “You can have all the surveys in the world but the majority of traders that I’ve spoken to are not happy”. He said the “major works” will leave the street closed for twelve months which has left “a lot of traders very upset”. Daly added, “I was disappointed to see it closed over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, any trader I’ve spoken to are disgusted that cars can’t come down the street”.
Councillors received correspondence from the Retailers of Ennis group at the beginning of April which claimed 158 objections were issued to the continued measures. “I have a difficulty with extending the road closure when there’s no road works,” he admitted while adding that he supported the idea of keeping O’Connell Street for pedestrianisation use on Fridays and Saturdays.
Voicing his support for pedestrianizing the streets of Ennis, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) referenced a “significant problem with adequate parking in the town”. Traders have told him the street closure “will affect the viability of their business”. He continued, “Every euro matters, we’re open to moving forward but it doesn’t make sense to close street when no works going on”.
Reopening the streets “flies in the face” of what Coláiste Muire students detailed on the potential of Ennis to become a Green Model town, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) maintained. This observation was refuted by Cllr Flynn, “There was no mention of pedestrianisation of O’Connell St in the presentation”.
Airing his views, Cllr Murphy stated, “This is an extremely hard one. I’m all for helping the traders, I don’t support full lifting of pedestrianisation”. He continued, “It is hard one to crack, I’m not saying I have the answers, I see families enjoying the town and they don’t have a dog leash on their child”.
“Pedestrianisation is the way to go,” Cllr Mary Howard (FG) believed, “I’m aware of the retailers and their stance but anyone I meet really appreciate the safety of the streets”. She questioned if the money was ring-fenced for the public realm works and noted how people now like to buy their sandwich and sit outside to eat it, adding, “Bringing children up town is not a scary thing anymore”.
Retailers and the public have differing opinions on the matter, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) affirmed. She shared the perspective of her twenty five year old daughter, Nicole, a wheelchair user, “the pedestrianisation side of things has been a massive opportunity for Nicole to be able to go shopping, she loves to spend money and she loves her independence, I know when she is in town and we have pedestrianisation that she is safe”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) described the closure of roads when no works are ongoing as “exasperating”. She said the merits of pedestrianisation were clear but flagged that the closure of O’Connell Street has led to over-congestion on Abbey Street.
Director of Services, Carmel Kirby told the meeting that the temporary pedestrianisation measures were adopted during COVID-19 “to meet the needs of the town”. She said the current system facilitated businesses to get drop-offs in the morning and for customers to use “busy takeaways” in the evenings.
Addressing councillors, O’Neill said, “the decision on road closure is an Executive decision, it is open to ye to reflect on views but the decision will be taken by the Executive”.
A vote had been sought by both Cllr Flynn and Cllr Daly. “There is no point in the vote, the vote has no consequence,” Cllr Colleran Molloy stated. “It’s democracy,” Cllr Flynn responded to which the Mayor opined, “one could argue it’s for optics, you know it won’t have an impact”. Cllr Howard suggested the matter be dealt with in-camera at a parking workshop.
How they voted:
Vote – to reopen O’Connell Street until traffic works began on the upgrade of the street.
FOR: Cllr Pat Daly (FF), Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr Johnny Flynn (FF), Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF).
AGAINST: Cllr Paul Murphy (FG)
ABSTAIN: Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Ann Norton (IND).
