*A CGI impression of the Abbey St development.
RESIDENTS in villages outside of Ennis will be further encouraged to do their shopping elsewhere if the proposed Abbey Street development proceeds.
William Cahir of Cahir Solicitors issued the warning when attending a public consultation for the Abbey Street car park development in the Ennis 2040 spatial and economic strategy.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, William warned that individuals living in areas such as Kilmaley and Kildysart will be more enticed to do their shopping in Limerick than Ennis due to the loss of car parking spaces in the heart of Ennis town. “It will make it easier for them to go to Limerick, you’re in Limerick in thirty five minutes so the choice now is come to Ennis and walk for thirty minutes or go to Limerick and park outside wherever you need to go”.
On his reaction to the plans, William revealed, “I’m very surprised, it is out of scale and out of kilter and doesn’t appear to be in keeping with the town at all, it has completely eliminated any access that the elderly and vulnerable people would have had to the town”.
Cahir’s Solicitors are located in Abbey Street car park, William’s work in the courts ensures he comes and goes from the offices and has plenty of experience on the difficulties of sourcing a parking space at present.
Loss of spaces will be “detrimental”, he said. “Our businesses can move but I feel really sorry for the businesses that cannot move out of town and won’t have an option to move, I think this is the death-knell for a lot of them”.
Ennis 2040 DAC remain determined to plough on with the development regardless of the opinions of business persons affected, Cahir felt. “I am not hearing any consolatory noises, they have just decided what they were doing a number of years ago and they are not interested in active engagement”.
