*Photograph: Páraic McMahon.
A NEW POLL has found that almost 80 percent of Clare Echo readers struggle to find a parking spot in Ennis.
Amid ongoing debate elected members of the Ennis Municipal District and senior officials in Clare County Council regarding the provision of parking in Ennis, The Clare Echo polled its readers to ascertain their views. The poll was completed by just under 500 online readers.
An overwhelming 78% said they frequently struggle to get a parking space in Ennis. 15% said it was ‘hit and miss’ when it comes to trying to source a space while 7% said there was loads of spaces when they try to park.
Debates have become commonplace at the Ennis MD whenever parking spaces gets an airing. Acting Director of Service for Economic Development with the Council, Seán Lenihan said he has never had any difficult sourcing a parking space in Ennis town in the past thirty years. “I’m driving around Ennis for 30 years, I’ve never been inside the door of either of the multi-storey car parks, you might not get outside the shop but I’ve always found a parking spot in all my time driving”.
Similar views have previously been expressed by the Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), “I never have a problem parking in Ennis”. Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the view that Ennis has a shortage of parking is “complete bunkum”.
Cllr Pat Daly (FF) stated, “parking in Ennis is at a premium, until we can provide parking for business owners and staff there will always be a shortage of car parking spaces”. Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) has flagged the economic impact of a shortage of spaces, claiming €8 per hour is the consequence of each lost parking space in the town centre.
