Ignorance on the behalf of bus and HGV drivers along with navigation systems have been blamed for large vehicles causing delays in the main streets of Ennis during December.
“A number” of buses and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) travelled along Francis St to Abbey St at the beginning of December “where they were stuck for a considerable amount of time at the junction at the Queens Hotel,” Cllr Mary Howard (FG) stated.
She requested “proper signage” be placed along the Clon Road, Bothar na Trocaire and Francis St “to alert drivers of these buses and lorries that the streets are narrow and not suitable for large vehicles”, at the last meeting of the Ennis Municipal District.
Senior executive engineer, Eamon O’Dea flagged that signage already exists at the Francis St junction and Causeway Link Road, “some drivers are ignoring the sign”. He confirmed the Municipal District would provide maximum vehicle length regulatory signs on both sides of Francis St adjacent to the Causeway Link restricting vehicle lengths to 7.5m with a second set to go on both sides of Francis St adjacent to the Friary Carpark entrance restricting vehicle lengths to 6m. “This will permit delivery vehicles to get access to Francis Street and Friary Carpark and only permit vehicles of a suitable size to travel through to Abbey Street”.
Howard said that on “at least three times” two buses and a lorry “got stuck by the Queens Hotel. It must be the Sat Navs that are sending them down there”. She felt the Causeway Link sign was “very small” and told the meeting the traffic delays caused “huge inconvenience in town”. The former General Election candidate queried if better signage could be erected to which O’Dea commented “We’re changing the types of signs”.
Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) seconded the motion. He said that “over the last number of years,” one particular property has been hit on several occasions. “It is an issue that requires attention”.
