*Photograph: John Mangan
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL have said they will continue to work with businesses while pointing out disruption caused by the public realm works has been “unfortunately unavoidable”.
Ennis’ public realm project is targeted to be completed on schedule in late 2025, a spokesperson for Clare County Council confirmed to The Clare Echo.
A moratorium on all construction activity will be place in from November 28th throughout December and until January 6th to facilitate and encourage Christmas trading, the Council confirmed. “The Ennis Public Realm project’s advancement to construction stage followed years of extensive planning and consultation with business community, residents, public and elected members”.
According to the spokesperson, “Ennis town centre remains fully open for business as work continues on one of the largest public infrastructure projects ever to be undertaken in the town. Major civil and infrastructural works of this nature bring disruption and inconvenience, and this is unfortunately unavoidable. The co-operation of the public, residents and traders in this regard is greatly appreciated”.
Management and staff in the Council “will continue to work with the business community to mitigate difficulties and address concerns” and the local authority “is conscious that there are concerns and challenges for the business community at this time”.
The Clare Echo in a query to the County Council questioned if all terms of the contract signed between the local authority and Shareridge Ltd in October 2023 have been adhered to, how are relations between both parties at present, what if any measures will be put in place to aid impacted businesses and what the Council can do to restore the respect of the public which one Ennis retailer claimed has been lost.
A public liaison officer (PLO) has been assigned by the appointed contractor, Shareridge. “Based in the town centre project office, the PLO is engaging extensively with affected parties as the works progress and in advance of the commencement of each work phase”.
Traders and public have been encouraged by the Council “to take every opportunity to meet with the project team to ensure that their needs are communicated, and disruption is minimised wherever possible. The contractor and design team are also convening fortnightly drop-in meetings, as well as issuing weekly progress update bulletins. Affected or interested parties are invited to email ennispublicrealm@shareridge.ie should they wish to be added to mailing list.
“As part of Clare County Councils ongoing commitment to minimisation of impact on traders and the public, certain targeted areas of the works have been completed outside normal business hours. This has expedited completion times in areas of narrow street width and high footfall, and ensures that O’Connell Street in Ennis can be handed over for public use at the earliest possible juncture,” the spokesperson added.
A series of Christmas in Ennis events will be held from the end of November across the festive period, the local authority have said. “Clare County Council will be running a calendar of events for Christmas commencing on November 28 with the Official Turning on of the Lights Ceremony following by a series of events each weekend leading up to Christmas. We are really looking forward to large crowds, young and old, coming to Ennis and enjoying what is to offer over that period. Clare County Council together with the appointed contractor Shareridge Ltd. remain committed to open communication with all stakeholders, including businesses and the public”.
