*Old Monastery Lane in Ennistymon.
AN EXTERNAL CONTRACTOR has been appointed and demolition works are due to commence in the coming weeks as part of the delivery of a new car park in Ennistymon.
Planning permission was granted two years ago for an off-street car park on Monastery Lane in Ennistymon with delays encountered while trying to rehouse the bats in situ around the vicinity of the proposed car park. The planning application was lodged in July 2022. An approximate 45 parking spaces will be delivered.
At Monday’s meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) sought “a definitive timeline for the delivery of the Monastery Lane Carpark and a commitment that the surface will be Asphalt (Black Top) and lined up opening. This car park will be a permanent replacement for many existing spaces around the town”.
Twelve of the twenty eight county councillors attended a special meeting in July which granted Part VIII approval for enhancement and public realm works in Ennistymon. This gathering was referenced by acting senior executive officer in the West Clare MD, John Corry in his reply, “The Chief Executive addressed the members at this meeting and acknowledged that the streetscape enhancement works were very important to the town of Ennistymon and advised that the Monastery Lane carpark was anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025. Mr. Dowling noted that the public realm works will be progressed at the earliest opportunity possible”.
Corry confirmed that demolition works are to commence “in the coming weeks at the Monastery Lane car park site with a view to the completed car park being provided within the timeline suggested by the Chief Executive. It is proposed that the completed car park will have a lined and black top finish”.
Speaking on Monday, Cllr Talty said he was “almost embarrassed” to have to raise the matter at another meeting. He recalled that the purchase of the car park was first discussed with former Director of Service, Liam Conneally in December 2019. “It is coming up to five years and it is embarrassing”.
According to the Lahinch man, “it should not be a twelve month project to do demolishing and surfacing”. He questioned if contractors had been appointed by the local authority.
“It has been worked on for quite a number of years, this ties into a lot of our discussions about towns and villages, when you get a chance to enhance to them, you have to take it. Ennistymon’s success has to be recognised and car parking whether we like it or not is a critical part of any town,” commented Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) when seconding the motion.
Constructing the car park should be prioritised ahead of the streetscape and public realm works, Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) maintained. “This is vital for the town of Ennistymon that this car park goes ahead as soon as possible”. He added, “It is very urgent that this car park starts as soon as possible”.
An external contractor has been appointed, Corry confirmed. “It has been always been a given that it would be complete to facilitate wider enhancement works in Ennistymon,” he said and told councillors that the County Council intended to deliver the car park before other works in the town.
