*Public consultation on the Post Office Field is said to be “imminent”. Photograph: Bob Singer
STRONGER focus needs to be placed on making Ennis the first climate adaptive town in the country, as part of the Ennis 2040 strategy.
Greater priority needs to be given to the goal of the Ennis 2040 strategy which aspires for the county town to become Ireland’s first climate adaptive town, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) maintained.
In a proposal before Tuesday’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, he cited six guiding principles from the economic and spatial strategy which Clare County Council has drawn down a €10m loan for to establish the Ennis 2040 Designated Active Company.
Development of a distinctive Ennis, the promotion of a high quality of life, health and well-being, maximising the opportunities offered by Clare’s scenic landscape, building a resilient and adaptable economy, establishing Ennis as a climate adaptive leader and the completion of an appropriate assessment, strategic environmental assessment and strategic flood risk assessment were all referenced by Cllr Murphy.
He asked Ennis MD to request that “priority is given to developing ‘Ireland’s First Climate Adaptive Town’ by working with the natural environmental assets of Ennis. This can be achieved by prioritising development at the Post Office Field, Clareabbey Wetlands and Enterprise Area and the Roche Opportunity Site”.
Senior engineer, Seán Lenihan in his response reminded elected members that the recently adopted Clare Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 “supports Ennis’s ambition to become ‘Ireland’s First Climate Adaptive Town’ and includes several actions that will over the lifetime of the plan directly and indirectly contribute towards this ambition”.
Such actions include supporting the wetland project in Ennis, increasing resilience to flooding in Ennis, advancing sustainable transportation in Ennis through EV Charging Infrastructure, Active Travel and Public Transport, Lenihan advised. “Regarding the Post Office Field proposal, the motion is timely in that the public consultation relating to same is currently being planned with the precise details to be advertised later in the week”. A behind-closed-doors briefing for Ennis MD members on plans for the Post Office Field is to be arranged.
Support and focus to make Ennis a “climate leader” needs to become visible, Cllr Murphy told the meeting. “This notice of motion is aimed at bringing us together to support the theme of Ennis 2040 which shouldn’t prove to be as divisive, this is one we can win on and bring us together”.
Public consultation for the Post Office Field is “imminent,” the Clarecastle representative noted and he predicted that the development of the Roche site in his native parish would be “a big help for jobs”. He added, “we have an opportunity to lead as a wellbeing team and give Ennis town a kickstart”.
Belief in “the climate approach and that there is an awful lot of opportunity that can be brought in,” was voiced by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF). “It is an opportunity and one that I’m excited about it, health and well-being is very much part of the high quality of life”.
“We have to have a vision for how Ennis is going to look into the future, we’ve spoke with the schools and the young people, they don’t want to be dependent on the car so lifestyle and how we live our lives is central to that,” Cllr Mary Howard (FG) commented.
Current Ennis MD representatives may not be around in years to come “but it is important to leave a legacy,” Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) remarked. “What is proposed is a raised boardwalk which will allow more enjoyment of the field, we know that is just the beginning,” she said of the Post Office Field which she labelled as “the lungs of Ennis”. Plans from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan (GP) to clamp down on city-centre parking were referenced by the Quin native, “let’s hope this is a carrot to encourage people to park further away and walk through the town”. She added, “We’re ahead of the posse so we won’t have to use sticks, we’ll have carrots thanks to the special purpose vehicle which is Ennis 2040”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said he had been listening to potential plans for the Post Office Field for the last forty five years “and nothing has happened. I’d love to see seating there, more walking and a lake”.
Support for the motion was also voiced by both Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) and Cllr Ann Norton (IND).
