DANGEROUS trees at the Lahinch Road exit of the Shanballa Estate in Ennis are posing a risk to drivers, a councillor has claimed.
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) at the July meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, highlighted the danger of drivers pulling out onto the busy main road with impaired vision due to the overgrown trees.
At the meeting, Cllr Colleran Molloy asked that “the trees on the Lahinch Rd at the exit of the Shanballa Estate be cut back as they are impeding sight lines and pose a danger”. The large housing estate is located next to the N85 national route, one of the county’s busiest roads which links Ennis and North Clare.
Acting Senior Executive Planner, Tadhg McNamara in response stated that “Clare County Council is examining the various planning permissions for the overall development, in so far as they relate to the estate entrance and the houses directly adjoining the Lahinch Road. This review will determine next steps”.
Speaking at the meeting, Colleran Molloy called the reply an “interesting response” and stressed that the issue requires urgent action as it is in the interest of public safety.
Further highlighting the issue, she stated that the trees “pose a danger out there. You can’t see traffic if you’re pulling out yet the response is saying the local authority is going to check the planning and see what conditions. All I can say is that the trees are posing an existing danger right now so I hope whatever response comes from the local authority whether directly or indirectly addresses this quickly”.
The motion was noted by members of the MD, with the Council expected to determine the next course of action following the completion of its planning review.
