*Barriers at Bank Place in Ennis. Photograph: John Mangan
From Wednesday, Ennis Town Centre will be pedestrianised with traffic to be re-routed throughout the town.
A mobility plan for Ennis Town is being prepared by Clare County Council in conjunction with its stakeholders. The plan will expand in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Physical distancing of 2m will remain a requirement of the plan for the foreseeable future.
Phase one of the Mobility Plan comes into effect from Wednesday (May 20th). “This initial stage puts in place measures to ensure street space can be shared safely by pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and cars, in order to ensure physical distancing can be adhered to by those coming into the town centre. The Plan incorporates traffic re-routing measures, amendments to delivery times and locations, and changes to car parking provision,” a spokesperson for the local authority told The Clare Echo.
Council officials have stressed that the plan “is a living document and will be subject to regular review” over the coming weeks and months. As first reported by The Clare Echo, Ennis Town Centre will be pedestrianised.
Director of Services with Clare County Council, Carmel Kirby commented, “Ennis Town Centre is characterised by narrow streetscapes with restrictive footpath widths on a number of streets. We are engaging with our stakeholders to plan how the street space can be shared safely by everyone while complying with the Government public health measures.”
Abbey St and O’Connell St will be completely pedestrianised from 7am to 6pm daily, alternative routes (see below) will be in operation.
Traffic re-routing measures affect the following areas (7am – 6pm):
- Abbey Street at the entrance to Abbey Street Carpark
- Frances Street at the entrance to Abbey Street
- O’Connell Street
- Bank Place to the exit from Abbey Street Carpark
- Salt House Lane and High Street
- Cabey’s Lane at Market Place
- Lower Parnell Street from Carmody Street to Cabey’s Lane
- Woodquay can be accessed from the carpark side
- Summerhill will be altered to a two-way traffic system, with access to River Lane from the river side and Fahy’s Lane from Summerhill.
Additional loading bays will be facilitated in the Temple Gate Car Park and Abbey St Car Park for deliveries outside of the daily allocated hours of 7am – 11am.
Parking and street layouts have been adjusted on Market St to adhere to two metre physical distancing. Similarly, parking has been removed on Bank Place from AIB to the Post Office, perpendicular parking on Woodquay from Parnell St has been adjusted to the car park access road. Traffic re-routing measures will also impact on-street car parking.
“This is about making the town safe for residents, staff and shoppers at this important phase,” Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) stated. He highlighted that detailed planning had been conducted by the Council along with the HSE and An Garda Síochána “to ensure the town streets are as best as can be achieved in compliance with strict public health guidelines”. He added, “We all have stayed home as asked but now we are entering a phase when we can come together in a safe way to save local jobs in Ennis.”
Allen Flynn, President, Ennis Chamber of Commerce said they were working in conjunction with the Council to look for a balance between public health and the requirements of its members to re-open their business in accordance with the Government’s roadmap. “To encourage people back into Ennis we need to ensure we are providing a safe place in which to visit, shop, dine and work,” the hotelier assured.
Queries from the public can be sent to Clare County Council via email (customerservices@clarecoco.ie).
Detailed maps of proposed changes:
