*Harvey’s Quay.
REFERENCES to paused contentious aspects of the Ennis 2040 strategy will be removed from the final version of the Ennis local transport plan.
Senior executive engineer in the Ennis Municipal District, Eamon O’Dea confirmed that references to proposed developments at Abbey Street and Parnell Street (Harvey’s Quay) car parks “will be removed from the final Local Transport Plan”.
He explained that Ennis 2040 is part of the Settlement Plan Objectives in the County Development Plan 2023-2029 and “therefore, it must be considered as part of the Draft Ennis Local Transport Plan”.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) tabled a motion before this week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District to “demand removal of all or any references to development of E2040 projects in Abbey St and Parnell St (Harvey’s Quay) from the final version of the Ennis Local Transport Plan”.
Community group Save Ennis Town had said there was unease at the inclusion of the paused projects in the transport plan after they had been paused by Ennis 2040 DAC in March.
Speaking in front of a packed public gallery for the Ennis MD meeting, Cllr O’Callaghan commented, “We as public representatives our job is to be the voice of the people, there’s concerned people here. This is a draft document, it is a proposal and there are people making submissions. I requested an extension for the submissions because the portal collapsed with the high amount of submissions, at first indication this request was rejected and the extension wasn’t going to be given but I’m glad the decision was reviewed”.
Inclusion of the Abbey St and Harvey’s Quay projects served as a “a contradiction” to the pausing of plans to build on riverside car parks in Ennis, he said. “This contradiction is fuelling accusations of poor transparency. Parking is already at a premium in Ennis, removal of these sites will exacerbate the shortages”.
Community groups such as Save Ennis Town and the Retailers of Ennis along with local residents “are consistently referring to the signals that consistent reference to the sites is keeping them viable,” Cllr O’Callaghan added.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) commented, “from Eamon’s reply that they will be removed from the local transport plan, we had asked for and I had thought that had been done but it is good to see it in black and white that it will be removed”. She added, “I understand a lot of money went into the fact that proposing these places in the beginning, we’re of the understanding that they are paused with majority of elected represnetatives not in agreement”.
Anger, worry and discontent from “everyday people” in Ennis is evident to see, Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) flagged. “The inclusion of projects which were marched, spoken and voted against is a concern to me and everyone on the ground. If I’m picking a team and if I’m putting in a corner back who isn’t a corner back and can’t play corner back yet I put him in the team that will raise concern of the entire back bench and it is a wrong decision,” he stated. “If that is how the NTA does its business they are very wrong, if we’ve to go down on bended knee to tell lies to the NTA then that is a failed process, it is a failure of Central Government that we don’t have enough money in Clare County Council”.
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) remarked, “I believe Cllr Guilfoyle would make a right good full-back”. He said there has been a lot debate on car parks in Abbey St and Parnell St “parking is at a premium in this town, with Penneys going into Abbey St it is time that we took out what it says in the motion and support removal of any development on the car parks”.
Assurances were issued by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) that the public would be listened to. “I know there is certain angst among people. They are only proposals, they are only drafts, this is where the planning process unfolds where your voice unfolds, this is not just one or two councillors leading the charge, we are all listening”.
Absence of an assessment within the transport plan on the impact of the proposals to local businesses was a “significant concern,” Cllr O’Callaghan stated. “I welcome the public extension on the submissions. I welcome the fact that 2040 will not be on final draft of the local transport plan, it does not say that in the Council 2025 annual service plan, I’d like to know if the Executive could confirm that they will not be proceeding with these plans full stop”.
