Parked HGVs in Bunratty. Photograph: Joe Buckley
‘MAYHEM in Bunratty’ could be eased by the addition of parking facilities in Shannon for the heavy goods vehicles, local councillors have argued.
In a proposal before the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) asked that a request be issued to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to provide HGV facilities on the M18 or N18 adjacent to Shannon Industrial Estate.
He explained, “these vehicles are parking in one of our prime tourist areas and near housing estates in the Shannon area at present”.
Speaking at the Shannon MD meeting, Cllr Ryan flagged, “it is something which has been happening in recent times because there are no facilities available on the M18 and N19, it is very disturbing to see so many HGV vehicles around the Bunratty area, there were seven around Gallaghers and Bunratty Manor Hotel recently”.
Facilities at the Spar Express in Bunratty allow truck drivers to get a cup of tea, sandwich or go to the toilet which is leading to them parking in the area for a few hours to get some sleep while on their travels, the Cratloe representative flagged. “Some vehicles are starting up at 4am and are disturbing residents and people staying at Bunratty Manor, it looks very bad when you drive into Bunratty and see all the HGVs parked around there”.
Cllr Ryan continued, “We need to put some pressure on TII to provide these facilities, TII took us up to the then Clare Inn and showed all these new plans to build a facility just south of Newmarket-on-Fergus and between Drumline roundabout for an in-line service station, it was a European standard facility and now there is no more about it”.
Housing estates are also dealing with the issue, he acknowledged. “This situation flows into Shannon, lorries are parked around Shannon that shouldn’t be, HGVs shouldn’t be parked around housing estates and they are normally parked around housing estates. TII need to provide facilities”.
Plans for a motorway plaza on the outskirts of Ennis which are subject to a judicial review were referenced by Cllr Ryan. “You can drive from Rosslare to Sligo without any proper truck facilities”. He also highlighted the dangers surrounding lorry loads full of fuel and chemicals and the need for proper facilities.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) believed it was something worth including in the local area plan, “here in Shannon, we are caught between the Airport, Industrial Estate and a large number of freight businesses. Some of the sites turned down by the planning department for Clare County Council for residential development would be suitable for this”. On the impact in Shannon housing estates, he stated, “it is causing mayhem in residential areas”.
Directives were issued by the European Union to have designated areas for trucks moving poisonous materials, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) told the meeting. “Coming into Bunratty you will see trucks and to be fair it is not a place where they should be, it is not the way we want to portray Bunratty”.
Shannon needs to have a facility to cater for HGVs, Cllr John Crowe (FG) stressed. “We’ve all seen the trucks in Bunratty, if you take Shannon which has a massive Industrial Estate that there isn’t a proper parking area for trucks like this with all the facilities and factories it is absolutely crazy that this has been left to run. You needed a park for the trucks, all those factory units, everything that goes in and out of them has to go out with trucks, it only logical that there be some place with all the facilities provided”.
Action must be taken, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) maintained. “It behoves Clare County Council to take strong action to get these lorries out of Bunratty, it does not fit with the area and the relaxed atmosphere”. Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) supported what she called “a very good motion”.
“I’d have awful sympathy for the drivers because there is no place for them to pull in,” admitted Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF). “The same thing is happening in the Industrial Estate, there was two lorries pulled up at 06:30 this morning with their curtains drawn. We’re acting on the lorry drivers’ behalf too by looking for this” .
Concluding the debate, Cllr Ryan said it was worth reviewing the plans previously put to elected members on the in-line service station in Newmarket-on-Fergus. “Maybe there is some way of closing the gap, maybe Pat McDonagh could go back to the plans he has and put it in place, it would solve all the problems”.
