*Blake’s Corner. Photograph: Conor Begley.
ELECTED members of Clare County Council are encountering their own gridlock in attempts to get clarity on the status of plans to alleviate traffic congestion at Blake’s Corner.
Three weeks on from the High Court dismissing an application to bring a judicial review challenge against the proposed compulsory purchase order for the Ennistymon inner relief road, elected members got stuck in their efforts to source further information from the top table of Clare County Council.
In a statement released last month following the High Court ruling, the Council said they “in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)” would proceed to the next stages of the N67/N85 Ennistymon Inner Relief Road project. These stages include detailed design development, conclusion of land acquisition and planning for the construction phase.
At Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) referred to the project’s mention in the monthly management report. “The outcome of the High Court case in relation to the inner relief road at Blake’s Corner, it said it dismissed a judicial review project allowing the project to proceed. Is that the definitive position,” he asked.
Director of Services of Transportation, Carmel Kirby offered little detail when replying, “I will come back to you in the coming days on it with correspondence”.
More surprisingly was the lack of reaction from elected members. Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) stated, “I have a motion down on the exact question as Cllr Talty has asked for our Municipal District, can you have a reply for next week”. Director Kirby confirmed a reply would be furnished for the meeting.
Ennistymon’s inner relief road is intended to address notorious traffic congestion at Blake’s Corner. The scheme includes the construction of a new bridge upstream of the Michael Conway Bridge, pedestrianisation of the existing bridge, and public realm improvements. A CPO was approved by An Bord Pleanála in June 2022, however the process was paused as the result of a judicial review until the High Court decision.
