CREATION of a bike rental scheme for Clare’s county town and its environs can help the lack of parking in Ennis, a county councillor has argued.

Prioritising the beginning of a bike rental scheme for Ennis and its environs was requested by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) in a proposal before the Ennis Municipal District which was seconded by Cllr Ann Norton (IND).

Leonore O’Neill, senior executive officer with the Ennis MD confirmed this appeal would be considered in the Ennis Town Mobility Plan.

Both Clarecastle and Barefield should be included in the scheme, Cllr Murphy felt. “The mobility plan is being worked on, provision of bike scheme should be a key component of that for a number of reasons, to improve mobility and give more options of travelling”.

Murphy continued, “This is a solution to the lack of parking in town, park in Clarecastle or Barefield and cycle in. It is something that should be considered and supported, it is getting back to the wellbeing and smart travel. E bikes could also be included, not everyone is fit enough to be cycling their regular bike”.

“If we are to change what it is a thirteenth century town centre to a twenty first century town to give priority to pedestrians then this is the way forward,” Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) stated.