*Photograph: Michael O’Brien
A “strategic development” of plans for the short-term and long-term development of Ballyalla Lake Amenity are in motion.
Approval for funding to the tune of €40,000 to develop a 7km Ballyalla Lake loop walk was announced in October. The Ennis recreational trails report first published in 2009 was updated last year and following this, the successful application for the funding began.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) who helped to fund the report through his General Municipal Allocation (GMA) tabled a motion before the Ennis Municipal District asking that a long and short-term report for the amenity be provided.
Under beach maintenance to the MD, €12,000 in funding is allocated to the Ballyalla Amenity Area. “This covered the cost of the facilities for the lifeguards and general maintenance of the amenity area. This is facilitated by the litter bin collection on a daily basis as part of the street cleaning operations, routine grass cutting and more significant maintenance works by the district works crew in the spring and autumn,” senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea outlined.
Planter build outs between the road-side parking area are intended to be cleaned, O’Dea confirmed. “The long-term proposal is to proceed with the detailed design and planning process for the proposed enhancement of Ballyalla Amenity as outlined in the feasibility study completed by the Barefield Tidy Towns committee with the assistance of the Council’s Economic Development Directorate”. A means of funding must be identified to allow the detailed design and planning process match the proposed implementation.
“A strategic development of these plans is the way,” Cllr Flynn told the November meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. “The Executive have shown they can use proper strategic planning”.
Recent activity and use of the facility was described as “fabulous” by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF). “We have the most fabulous amenity at Ballyalla Lake, we can see it to continue to improve”. She added, “It is a huge attraction for families with young kids”.
Putting in a place a hut for swimmers was suggested by Cllr Pat Daly (FF). “There are 20 swimmers there on a daily basis,” he claimed.
