*The much discussed armadillos in Clonroadmore.
ENHANCEMENTS to Clonroadmore from St Flannan’s College to the Riverside Estate are to be considered coupled with a revised design for the Tulla Rd in Ennis.
At a special meeting of the Ennis Municipal District on Monday, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) cited the planned cycle lanes in the revised design schedule proposed for the Tulla Rd and asked for a similar design to be used at Clonroadmore “in accordance with the wishes of residents on that particular road and adjoining estates”.
Active Travel grant funding has been secured by officials within Clare County Council from the National Transport Authority (NTA) “to commence concept design development to upgrade the cycling infrastructure on the Limerick Road including St Flannan’s Drive,” senior executive engineer Conor McDonagh confirmed.
McDonagh explained, “subject to the successful delivery of the Tulla Road Cycle Scheme, the NTA has committed to continue to provide the Active Travel grant funding to progress the Limerick Road Cycle Scheme which will include enhancements along St Flannan’s Drive similar to those now proposed for the Tulla Road”.
Speaking this week, Cllr Daly remarked that the proposal for the Tulla Rd was “very welcome” but that the road by St Flannan’s College and Riverside estate was “very narrow and dangerous”. He blamed this on the presence of armadillos which he described as a “serious health and safety issue” and should be removed if residents agree to it. “Every Thursday I believe there is an accident there with lorries,” he claimed.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) outlined how familiar he was with the road given that his parents live there, “I’m very conscious of what the neighbours are saying since they were installed. To be truthful we are all in favour of Active Travel but on this we drove forward without thinking of the bigger picture”. He confessed that he has even tripped over the armadillos.
Measures to encourage cycling need to be backed, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) commented. “I’m pro getting the kids on bikes and we are winning the battle, you do see more bikes out and it is about using the infrastructure, if it is provided it will be used”.
Health and safety risks are associated with the current infrastructure, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) stated. The Tulla Rd scheme must cater for the pedestrian, cyclist, driver and bus plus 18,000 vehicle movements per day, he flagged. “77% of people who come into Ennis for business purposes come from outside the area that the bus will cover,” Flynn added of the planned town bus service.
Prior to the 2019 local elections, the armadillos were a big talking point at the doorsteps, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) recounted. She said that the road had previously been used as a rat run for people to access the motorway and that three students from St Flannan’s College had been knocked down. “I can’t remember the actual scheme but I remember Ann Cronin explaining it was the template for best practice in urban areas to keep people safe, the proof in the pudding is in the eating and there hasn’t been any accidents since,” she said.
Concluding the discussion, Cllr Daly remarked, “The cyclists are not in fear anymore and it is important that continues but at the same time the motorist has to come into it too”.
