*An artist’s impression of the original Abbey St Car Park plans which were paused in March.
UNEASE has been expressed at the inclusion of the paused controversial Ennis 2040 developments for Abbey Street and Harvey’s Quay (Parnell Street) in the draft Ennis local transport plan.
Funding for future transportation projects across Ennis and surrounding areas will be guided by the Ennis Local Transport Plan. The plan itself is funded under the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Active Travel Investment Programme.
In March, both of the proposals to build on the riverside car parks in Abbey Street and Harvey’s Quay were paused. However, the draft transport plan references the projects and the Post Office Field in the appendix of the document for emerging preferred options, “public realm improvements including Abbey Street Car Park and Harveys Quay Car Park projects. This includes Proposed Boardwalk along Abbey St CP and new boardwalk to extend across River Fergus and over Post Office Field improving route options and accessibility”.
The document adds, “A number of measures to improve the town centre are at various stages of development by Clare County Council and Ennis 2040 DAC emerging from the Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy”. They included, “Mobility Hub at Museum-Friar’s Walk Car Park – Improved access to and interchange between bus services. Residential development on Francis Street. Abbey Riverside Transformational Site – Abbey Street Car Park to Harvey’s Quay Boardwalk and one-way southbound for traffic, Improved linkages between Abbey Riverside and Harvey’s Quay via Old Friary Lane. Harvey’s Quay Transformational Site. Post Office Field Bridge – Improved access to/from the town centre, in particular Parnell Street area”.
Chairperson of voluntary community group Save Ennis Town, Gearoid Mannion told The Clare Echo, “Three months ago the people of Ennis and surrounding areas breathed a sigh of relief when the announcement was made that these ill-advised developments had been paused.
“While many welcomed the move at the time, there was uncertainty about what exactly a ‘pause’ meant and whether the proposals to build on these valuable civic amenities would be re-activated at a later date,” said a spokesperson for Save Ennis Town, the community based group who have campaigned to keep the Abbey and Parnell Street car parks in public ownership and available for the benefit of the people of the town. The re-apperance of these proposed developments in the Ennis Local Transport plan is very worrying and people are now asking if this signals a clear intention of Clare County Council and Ennis 2040 DAC to build on the river side car parks at a later date”.
Reassurance and clarity on the status of the projects must be provided by the Council, he said. “It is important that that there is now clarity on this vital issue so that the many positive aspects of the Ennis 2040 proposals can proceed, free from this divisive controversy. It is also important that the Council re-assures the public regarding speculation that the Abbey Street car park may be used as a staging and storage area for the construction of the new Penneys development at Harmony Row which could deprive the public of the use of part of this important civic amenity for a considerable amount of time”.
In a statement to The Clare Echo, a spokesperson for Clare County Council outlined that the Ennis 2040 strategy must be considered as part of the transport plan, “While cognisant of the discussions and commitments given at the recent briefing and workshop with Councillors, the Ennis 2040 economic and spatial strategy is part of the settlement plan objectives in the Clare County Development Plan 2023 to 2029 and therefore they must be considered as part of the Ennis Local Transport Plan.
“That being said, elements of the Ennis 2040 economic and spatial strategy may well be removed or revised in the next County Development Plan or in any variation of the existing one. The Ennis Local Transport Plan will inform any future Ennis Urban Area Plan and therefore the public are reminded to submit their comments and suggestions before Friday’s deadline”.
