This article is from page 14 of the 2006-10-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
LOCAL residents living in the Clare Road area of Ennis have claimed that the planned homeless hostel for Ennis “will attract a significant anti-social element to the locality”.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council lodged plans to convert the existing Laurel Lodge on Clare Rd to a hostel for 13 homeless men.
The cost of the project was estimated at €2.1 million. The St Vincent de Paul will operate the building and has told Ennis Town Council that it “will act as a centre of care, support, information and advice to those experiencing homelessness”.
The objection has been lodged by Patrick Donnelly, Ann-Marie Donnelly, Helen Broderick and Christopher Walsh. However a petition in support of the objection has managed to attract only four additional names.
The objectors state that they have “deep and well founded concerns” over the proposed development. They state: “We may be accused of acting in a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) manner, but this proposal is virtually in our backyards.
“There has been no consultation with local residents by the St Vincent de Paul and they refused to have a public meeting regarding the matter. We are left with no option, but to object in the strongest possible manner to the location of this homeless centre.”
In their objection, the residents state: “We are duty-bound to prevent any development that will bring such dysfunction close to our homes and families and we request planners in Ennis Town Council to have consideration for those of us who quietly live our lives, pay our taxes and do not seek handouts or assistance from the state.
“We do not cause any of the ills of society and we do not want them foisted upon us by others in a residential area.
“Numerous residents including unaccompanied females currently go for recreational walks in the vicinity of the premises and we are concerned that the proposed development will attract person who will cause fears to these persons for their safety and a fear of being interdicted in their walks and at other times.”
The objection refers to “the unpredictable nature associated with a population with a high dependency of drugs and alcohol and consequent likelihood of crime including violent crime, a pre-disposition towards psychiatric illness and all the attendant problems associated with that”.
The objectors also state that “no assessment has been undertaken to determine the best practice location for a development such as this”.
“It appears that it was a case of property available for purchase rather than identifying a location that will best serve the needs of a group with the problems associated with homelessness.
A decision is due on the application later this month.