This article is from page 11 of the 2006-03-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
CONTENTIOUS plans for a €50 million retail park on the outskirts of Ennis due to create 250 jobs when operational, have been given the go-ahead, in spite of opposition from An Taisce, independent retailers’ group RGDATA and local residents.
Ennis Town Council ruled in favour of the development on a 17-acre site, in close proximity to the St Flannan’s roundabout in Ennis.
According to the developer, Michael Lynch Ltd., 150 people will be employed during the construction phase.
It will comprise of a retail superstore, seven retail warehouse units and a garden centre.
A retail impact assessment lodged with the plan concluded that, “it will not adversely affect the viability and vitality of the existing Ennis town centre or the local economy.”
But as part of the 36 conditions attached to the planning permission, the council has ruled that no development can commence until An Bord Pleanala grants planning permission for a vehicular access to the development.
Residents of the Clare Road are appealing this decision to An Bord Pleanala. They are also set to appeal the granting of permission to the centre. A decision is due in August.
A spokesman for the local residents told The Clare People , “We are very disappointed with the decision and we feel that our concerns over the development, have been ignored by the Town Council. No concession was made to the residents concerns,” he said.
An Taisce has expressed “serious concerns with regard to the environmental sustainability of the proposal”.