Category: News

COUNCILLORS in Ennis have expressed support for the development of large retail parks on the outskirts of Ennis.

At a special meeting of Ennis Town Council yesterday, members discussed a proposed second variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan 2008-2014.

Thirty-one submissions were received in relation to the variation, which was drawn up in response to concerns raised by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The Department had expressed concern over the amount of land zoned for residential purposes in the Ennis area.

Yesterday, councillors presented a number of modifications to the proposed variation. They included an amendment proposed by Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind), stating, “It is the policy of the Council that, subject to assessment of retail impact PS7 (site at Limerick Road and Clonroadmore) would be a suitable location for a district centre scheme or new large food store.”

He said he was proposing the amendment “in the interest of balanced retail development”.

Cllr Neylon told the meeting that councillors should positively consider developments that have the capacity to create jobs and encourage young people to stay in Clare rather than emigrate.

He said Ennis had lost shoppers from Kilrush and Miltown Malbay to large retail developments in West Clare. He told the meeting that the only new businesses setting up in Ennis town centre are “€ 2 shops, phone shops and betting shops”. He claimed that shoppers are refusing to come to Ennis because of the cost of parking charges.

The proposal was backed by the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind), who told the meeting that he was “pro-development” provided it was on sustainable basis.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) expressed concern over the amendment. He warned that it could lead to a “doughnut effect” whereby jobs would be lost in the town centre. “You would lose a certain amount of vitality from the town centre,” he added.

The amendment, along with others proposed by councillors, will now go back on public display.

Planning permission has been sought by Michael Lynch Ltd for the development of a retail park at five hectares of land at Limerick Road and Tobertascáin.

It is projected that as many as 500 jobs could be created if the development gets the go-ahead. According to planning consultants DPP (Development Planning Partnership), 300 temporary jobs will be created in construction while with a further 200 full-time jobs in retail on completion.

RESIDENTS along the old N18 road between Barefield and Crusheen are “mystified” by the removal of road markings in the area, a meeting has heard.

The issue was highlighted at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis East Electoral Area. In a motion, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) requested that “that no road markings be removed from what was the N18 road without the consultation of elected members”.

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that residents in the area are “mystified” by the removal of a “ghost traffic island” at Ballymacona Cross. He said the removal of the traffic island was understandable given its proximity to a bend of road leading to a fly-over on the M18 Ennis / Galway road.

However he added that it “appears curious” that a traffic calming measure installed at a cost and that helped motorists when the road was busy, was removed at a cost.

Cllr Meaney acknowledged that there is an issue in relation to the speed of cars coming off the flyover.

He said that he was concerned that decisions to remove road markings were being taken on a “unilateral basis” without the knowledge of the public or elected representatives.

In his reply to Cllr Meaney’s motion, Senior Executive Engineer Eamon O’Dea stated, “The existing line marking at Ballymacona Cross on the R458 (old N18) was put in place at the end of the Ennis bypass project. The design build contractor of the Ennis bypass and their road safety auditor (and checked by the supervising engineer) required that a ghost island was installed at the Ballymacona Junction, as the dual carriageway was reducing to a single carriageway way on the N18.

Mr O’Dea added, “The N18 is now the R458 and the traffic levels has reduced on the road, the design build contractor for the Gort Crusheen project and their road safety auditor (and checked by the supervising engineer) consider that a ghost island is not required and that the lining provided complies with the required standards.”

Mr O’Dea told the meeting that he is “not happy” with the road surface or the bends leading to the fly-over.

COUNCILLORS in Ennis have recommended that large tracts of development land in the Clarecastle be included in Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

At a special meeting of Ennis Town Council, councillors proposed a number of amendments to the proposed variation.

Senior planner Gordon Daly told the meeting that phase one of the plan could only include 88 hectares of land zoned for residential purposes.

In total, across a number of amendments, councillors are seeking the inclusion of 38 hectares of land in the Ennis area, which the manager’s report said should be excluded from phase one of the variation. To balance their proposals, councillors are proposing that 38 hectares of land in the Roslevan area be excluded from phase one of the variation. Members are seeking the inclusion in phase one of the variation, lands in the Clarecastle area.

In their submission, councillors Tommy Brennan, Frankie Neylon, Brian Meaney and Michael Guilfoyle state, “It is important to the implementation of this plan and to generate a sufficient population base in these areas to justify the upgrading of the Clarecastle treatment plant and other community facilities along with road networks that residential development is promoted in these areas in a balanced way.

The amendment supports submis- sions made by: Therese McCarthy on lands at Ballybeg, which were zoned residential in 2003 and 2008; James Malone, on lands at Kildysart Road, Clarecastle and Ballybeg. (In his submission Mr Malone states “developers with lands in Clarecastle are looking at the possibility of working in partnership with the Council in order to bring these lands to planning by resolving the existing services issue. These discussions are now put in jeopardy if the current phasing as proposed proceeds); McCarthy Bros, on lands at Ballybeg; M Fitzgibbon (Builders) Ltd, on lands at Ballybeg Clarecastle.

Councillors are also seeking the inclusion of land at Ballycorey as set out in submissions by Luxury Homes and land at Ballymaley, as set out in a submission by Michael Keating on behalf of Paddy and Mary O’Donoghue.

Councillor Tommy Brennan proposed the amendment “to introduce a more balanced zoning in order to optomise land use in the overall plan area”. Other amendments proposed the inclusion of lands at Tulla Road as set out in a submission by Drumquinn Construction Ltd.

Mr Daly said the manager’s report recommended the inclusion of lands at Roslevan as they are in a better location and have access to better facilities.

The variation will now go back on public display and will be subject to a further manager’s report. The variation process is expected to be completed by October.

MEMBERS of the public are being urged to have their say on a proposed footpath for the Quin Bridge.

Concerns have been raised over plans by Clare County Council to install a footpath on Quin Bridge.

Councillors yesterday urged the Council to consider installing a foot- path underneath the bridge rather than on the main road.

Cllr Sonny Scanlan (FG) told the a meeting of councillors in the Ennis East Electoral Area that that he is against the current proposal. He said a footpath would make the bridge too narrow and cause problems for motorists and pedestrians alike.

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) supported the call, saying that the road is “too narrow and dangerous” for a footpath. “The footpath should be underneath the bridge,” he added.

Senior Executive Engineer Eamon O’Dea told the meeting that the part eight planning process finishes on July 15 and all public submissions about the project should be in by that date.

“The manager’s report will be drafted and brought before the coun cillors for their consideration.”

Mr O’Dea said resources will be made available for the project. Ennis town manager Ger Dollard told the meeting that plans to improve pedestrian facilities at the railway bridge on the Quin Road are “tied up with the railway safety commission”.

GARDAÍ across Clare are investigating a string of break-ins over the past week.

A range of property including electrical items, a generator and mobile homes were stolen during the burglaries, while homes were ransacked.

In one incident, at Ballynote West, Kilrush, a house was broken into between 1am and 9am last Monday. A range of goods was stolen including a digital camera, laptop, three mobile phones, and Nintendo DS.

Also in West Clare, a house in Carrigaholt was broken into and a petrol generator was stolen at around 12pm on Saturday.

A farm was targeted in Kilkee on Monday night, as five Freisan heifers with tag numbers were stolen from a field in Newtown. Tents camped in Spanish Point were targeted and personal belongings including hand- bags, mobile phones and money were taken, between 5pm and 6pm last Wednesday.

Machinery that was parked in a quarry at Moveen East, Kilkee, had its windows broken over the weekend.

A house in Cusack View, Ennis, was broken into and ransacked between Tuesday and Friday of last week. A flatscreen television was stolen in a break-in at the Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis, overnight on Wednesday.

A house in O’Briensbridge was searched overnight on Friday, after thieves forced open the front door. However, nothing was taken.

In Clarecastle, a container at Creggaun na hIlla caught fire in what gardaí say are suspicious circumstances, at around 10pm on Friday.

Anyone with information on any of those crimes should contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100 or a local Garda station.

A PUBLIC meeting will be held next week to launch a Clare campaign against the introduction of flat-rate water charges before meters are installed.

The meeting is being organised by the newly formed Shannon Green Party branch. Their chairman Gerben Uunk explained why awareness of the water-charge proposals are important.

“We all remember the drastic icy winter; many citizens were left with burst water pipes in Clare and around the country. The Government relentlessly plans to introduce water charges without proper water metering in place in most Irish homes. Households are to be charged € 175, before water meters are installed,” he told The Clare People .

“Shouldn’t people on disability benefit or reliant upon social welfare be exempt from paying water charges? Householders will be forced to pay this flat-rate charge for their water for at least three years. No matter how much water you use, everyone will pay the same flat fee. That is not equitable,” Mr Uunk said.

On the agenda for the meeting which will be held in the Oakwood Arms Hotel in Shannon on Wednesday, July 20, at 7.30pm – will be the reasons why water charges are being introduced, lessons from the international experience of water charges, why it’s important to conserve drinking water, tips to help reduce the amount of water usage at home, an outline of the Green Party position on water charges and an open floor questions and answers session.

Clare TDs and senators are also being invited to the meeting to express their opinion.

THE tragic victim of last week’s house fire was still in mourning for his father, whom he had buried just over a month before he died.

Mike Kennedy, who was born and grew up in Killaloe, lost his life in a housefire in neighbouring Ballina on July 3.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, huge crowds turned out to pay their final respects to the family man and musician.

Mike had buried his father, Timmy, who owned an electrical shop in Killaloe just over a month before his own death.

Mike – known as ‘Caddie’ – was well known for his interest in mu- sic and regularly played the banjo at sessions in Killaloe and Ballina. He also loved fishing and handball and, in his younger days, played under-age hurling for the local SmithO’Brien club.

Friends of the 53-year old said that the community is deeply shocked at his loss. “He was a very happy go lucky kind of person; a lovely man and very interested in music. He played music and he collected CDs and DVDs of well known musicians,” a friend told The Clare People .

Mike is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Kevin, Anthony and Declan, their partners Lisa Grace and Elaine, his mother Eileen, sister Geraldine, mother in law, relatives and friends.

NEW casual trading byelaws aimed at improving the operation of the Ennis market were last night adopted by members of Ennis Town Council after councillors voted unanimously to remove plans for a controversial tow away system.

As part of the byelaws, the Council had proposed introducing a system that would have seen cars parked in market trading bays on trading days, towed away.

That, along with plans to limit the sale of Christmas trees to the Cornmarket area of the town, were strongly opposed by all elected representatives present at yesterday’s Council meeting.

Despite sparking confusion, another proposal to prevent the further reduction of parking spaces in favour of trading bays in Guaranakilla, as set out in the byelaws, did make the final draft, despite criticisms from Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG).

Councillors Flynn, Paul O’Shea (Lab) and Frankie Neylon (Ind) proposed that the byelaws be passed subject to three conditions.

Members voted unanimously to re- move the tow away system and the restriction of the sale of Christmas trees from the byelaws.

However, following a warning from town manager Ger Dollard that a proposal to designate a section of Guaranakilla strictly for parking would have “serious implications” for trading in the market, a majority of councillors present voted 4-3 against the amendment.

Cllr Flynn said he was against the further reduction of parking in the interests of ratepayers in the area. Town clerk Eddie Power said effective byelaws were needed to manage the market in the interests of safety and of traders who pay to operate in the area.

Mr Dollard told the meeting that signs warning that cars may be towed away could still be put up in the market. He said the penalty would not be part of the byelaws, adding that Gardaí could still decide to tow cars away if they are found to be impeding trading.

Cllr Flynn described the tow away system as using a “sledgehammer to crack a nutshell”. Cllr Neylon said the proposal could cost affected car owners € 200 to remedy.

A MYSTERY Irish American couple have come forward with funding for a new project which could create hundreds of jobs in Clare over the next 12 months.

Details of the project, which is the brain child of West Clare man Jim Connolly, will not be officially released for another month but The Clare People understands that the project is modelled on a similar project started in Clare the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Jim, who is the founder or Rural Resettlement Ireland and was a candidate in this year’s General Election, says he had been seeking funding to restart the project for the last number of year but when no Government help was forthcoming the project was saved by the mysterious donation from America.

The project will see a series of open fair days being hosted around the county which would encourage unemployed people to show off their own talents and to grow confidence in the people.

“We are trying to attract people to set up their own jobs for themselves. It aims to promote one person enterprises by hosting free open days where unemployed people can come along and sell their good or services. It sounds like a simple idea but the response was simply overwhelming. This became a huge project, not just in Clare but in six other counties.,” said Jim.

“The key is that the whole thing is that it is totally free and people have nothing to lose. It is a great way of encouraging people to explore own talents and to give them confidence.”

Jim had failed to gain Government support for his project over the last two years, which was eventually why he decided to put his name forward for the General Election earlier this year.

“Through the publicity from the General Election I was contacted by an Irish American couple, who wish to remain anonymous, and within three or four weeks they had sent money over from America to fund this project on a part-time basis for one year,” continued.

“We have an application in with the new Government. I met the Minister last week and they are keen but have given no guarantee but if they come on board we could make it a fulltime project and extend it for more than a year.”

The project will be officially launched later this summer and any unemployed people are asked to prepare for the fair. The majority of the fair will be hosted by the local VECs but they will be made open to other locations.

SHANNON’S mounting losses in recent years means that the airport won’t be granted its independence in the short-term, even though a 2011 deadline had been put in place to determine if it would be broken away from Dublin Airport Authority control and given its wings as a standalone entity.