Category: News

THE new €50 million retail park proposed for Ennis’s Quin Rd will not adversely impact on the quality, vitality and viability of the core retail area in Ennis or the wider town centre area.

That’s according to the Retail Impact Statement (RIS) lodged with the application by Ennis businessman, Sean Lyne and Noel Connellan.

Their plan is expected to create 150 jobs, provide 14,840 sq metres of space and will include a large anchor DIY store with garden centre and builders’ yard. Ennis Retail Park will also comprise nine smaller retail units.

The retail impact statement does not envisage the Quin Rd business park being in place until 2010, and forecasts that it will have the highest turnover of three retail parks currently planned for Ennis, at €35 million by 2010.

In spite of the €100 million annual spend at the three retail parks, the RIS forecasts that there will be surplus capacity of €7.6 million in the market available. It concludes that the park will not have an adverse impact on the town centre.

“As stated in the Retail Planning Guidelines, a retail park development in the range of 8,000 to 15,000 sq m is unlikely to have a material adverse impact on the more important town centres,” the RIS states. “A retail warehouse park of the size and location proposed would not give rise to a long term increase in the number of vacancies in the Ennis core retail area.”

The RIS also argues that “the location of the proposed development offers a high level of accessibility for those purchasing comparison goods.

“The subject proposal is consistent with the zoning of the application site and fully accords with the requirements of retail development policy as set out in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.”

It also argues that the proposal will “enhance the attraction of Ennis as a shopping destination and will serve to maintain investor interest in all sections of the retail and wider economy, thereby meeting plan objectives for the promotion of a sustainable economy.”

A decision is due on the application later this year.

FEARS were expressed yesterday for the long-term future of the core of Ennis, after census figures show that the town’s urban population has dropped by nearly 20 per cent in the past 10 years.

According to the most recent figures, the town’s core urban population now stands at 5,917, compared to 7,163 a decade ago. And in the past four years, the town’s urban population has declined by six per cent.

The drop in core population has coincided with a drift to the fringes, resulting in the town’s overall population increasing from 18,830 to 20,234 – an increase of 7.5 per cent.

The publication of the census coincides with business interests lodging plans for retail parks on the periphery of Ennis, where the anticipated turnover is put at €54 million. In response to the figures, Green Party councillor Brian Meaney yesterday warned of the ‘doughnut effect’ taking hold in Ennis.

“This is a phenomenon commonly seen in the US and the UK where town centres have died as a result of concentrating on the periphery, where the car is king. This is already happening in Ennis,” he said.

“These figures are in part due to families getting older and the children building on the outskirts of Ennis, but it also raises a fundamental point about the development of our town. I would be concerned as well from an economic point of view that the various retail parks would have an adverse impact on Ennis town centre.”

Cllr Meaney said the figures emphasise the need to retain and expand core services within the town, rather than on the outskirts.

According to Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind), these figures reinforce the argument for an extension to the current Ennis Town Council boundary. The last extension was made more than 20 years ago.

Cllr Brennan said, “There is very little land left in which to build within the town boundary and people looking to build outside are being refused due to the ‘non-local rule’.”

Chief executive of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Rita McInerney, said that the population figures in relation to Ennis town centre can be seen as a positive as more space is being given to commercial development in favour of residential development.

She said, “It is important that a balance is struck. Ennis is thriving, but it is also at a crossroads in terms of the level of development and where it will be allowed.”

TWO Ennis businesses have failed in a bid to expand operations, as a result of planning decisions by Ennis Town Council and An Bord Pleanala.

Plans by Liam Cleary to redevelop his existing car sales site on the Kilrush Rd have been shot down by Ennis Town Council, while plans by Pat and Catherine Fitzpatrick to demolish their existing shop on the Tulla Rd and construct a new unit has been refused by An Bord Pleanala.

Mr Cleary sought to construct an underground car park, 13 retail units at ground floor level, 12 apartments and a cafe at first floor level, 12 apartments and a commercial unit at second floor level, and two penthouses at roof level.

However, the council ruled that the proposed development “would set an undesirable precedent for development within proposal sites.

“The proposal to locate residential accommodation over existing workshops would constitute haphazard development by virtue of noise and nuisance, would be injurious to the residential amenity of both existing houses and the proposed units, and taken in conjunction with the remainder of the proposed development would result in over-development of the site.

“By reason of its height, block form and layout, the absence of adequate private open space or public open space to serve the apartment units, it would seriously injure the amenity of existing and proposed residences.”

In response, Mr Cleary has appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala, claiming that “our proposals would enhance this site which is underdeveloped and in such close proximity to Ennis Town Centre. Occupants of this development could walk in five minutes to the town centre without having to drive and to clog up the existing town”.

The council refused planning permission for the Fitzpatrick development, prompting the applicants to appeal to An Bord Pleanala. The Inspector had ruled in favour of the development, but the appeals board disregarded that recommendation and refused permission on two grounds.

The board ruled that it would constitute over-development of the site and seriously injure the amenities of the area. The Board also ruled that a shortfall in parking provision would result in overspill roadside parking which would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard.

AFTER only a year in existence, The Clare People newspaper is about to significantly increase its operation with the launch of a second title which will commence publication in September.

The Clare People Weekender , will be published every Friday and distributed free, door-to-door, to more than 25,000 homes throughout county Clare.

The Weekender will concentrate on the social and entertainment scene which will allow it to complement the breaking news and sports content of the paid-for Tuesday publication.

Commenting on the decision to launch the new publication, company chairman Dómhnal Slattery said that it would considerably expand the media space in Clare where the recent census showed a population growth to 110,800.

“With current ABC figures of more than 10,000 for The Clare People each Tuesday, combined with a freesheet circulation of 25,000 on Friday, we will have the potential to deliver almost 100,000 readers to our rapidly expanding advertising base,” he said.

“The feedback from readers and advertisers alike indicate that this is a compelling combination.”

According to managing editor, Gerry Collison, The Clare People Weekender is a logical extension of that strategy and should add significant value to The Clare People brand.

The newspaper has assembled a team of top-rank journalists which will be further strengthened over the coming weeks by the recruitment of PPAI and McNamee award-winning photographer, Eamon Ward.

The Clare People is Ireland’s fastest growing regional newspaper.

Its first anniversary edition on June 27 sold more than 15,000 copies, demonstrating the strength of its growing franchise in the Clare media market.

Key demographics for Clare indicate that it is one of the fastest growing and most affluent markets in the country and The Clare People ’s commercial priority was to provide the most cost-effective advertising vehicle for businesses to reach that lucrative market.

LAUGH-a-minute comic, Peter Kay has splashed out on a retreat in the lakeside village of Killaloe.

The British comedian is reputed to have paid €1 million for the mansion on the shores of Lough Derg, and he will have some famous neighbours in his new home.

One of the most recent new residents in the area was Euro-millions winner, Dolores McNamara.

Gay Byrne’s daughter, Crona, also lives in the area and she was in the news recently when her home was broken into by a gang who made off with jewels, including a ring which was a gift from the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

Kay is entertaining at the Trinity Room’s third birthday bash. VIP guests at the knees up include Munster men, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell as well as comedian Pat Shortt and Miss Ireland, Sarah Morrissey.

The 33-year-old Bolton-born Kay appeared on stage with Billy Joel at his gig in Croke Park last weekend.

A WEEK after one Clare hotelier claimed that the tourism industry in the county needs to “fight back”, a second local hotel empire has noted the lack of an increase in tourist numbers during the past two months.

Last week the Central Statistics Office released figures that showed domestic holidaymakers were opting for Dublin at the expense of Clare and other west of Ireland counties.

This week the CSO said the number of foreign visitors to Ireland increased by 14 per cent during the first five

months of this year, compared to the same period last year. However, Paddy Maher, development and marketing manager with the Atlantis Holiday Group, said this increase did not continue into the summer months.

“The good start to the year has not been sustained through the summer months,” he said. “While there was a surge in business over the June Bank Holiday, I do not regard this year’s tourism numbers to be any improvement on previous years.

“The overall increase in overseas visitors has been no real benefit to regional tourism, where visitor numbers have remained static at best.”

According to the CSO, trips from Britain were up almost 13 per cent, mainland Europe 23 per cent and North America 3.7 per cent.

“I welcome this increase in total visitor numbers. However, it must be noted that visitors are increasingly staying for shorter periods of time. These shorter breaks and the concentration of numbers along the eastern seaboard is having knock-on effects for total revenue,” Mr Maher said.

Meanwhile, the Clare Tourism Forum has received an upsurge in enquiries relating to the county, arising out of a promotional campaign it launched a few weeks ago. The national campaign is a collaborative approach to attracting greater visitor numbers to Clare.

From July 1 to 18, enquiries to the Ennis Tourist Office were up 133 per cent on the entire month of June. And public reaction to the promotional campaign has been described as “very encouraging” by David Collins, Clare Tourism Forum member and Group Marketing Director with Lynch Hotels. Other local tourism interests are planning to promote the county at the 20th annual US Milwaukee Irish Fest, which attracts more than 130,000 people.

Shannon Development, Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council, the Mayor of Clare, and representatives from the County Clare tourism industry, are gearing up to promote Clare as a tourist destination from August 17 to 20 in the US town.

FORMER Russian President Boris Yeltsin returned to Moscow on Sunday following a three-day private visit to Clare, part of which he spent shark-fishing off the west coast.

Mr Yeltsin’s last visit to Clare made international headlines when an Taoiseach, two ministers, a guard of honour and an army band were left standing on the tarmac at Shannon Airport. Yeltsin had agreed to make a stopover on his way back to Moscow from the US, but it was more like a sleepover as the Russian leader failed to appear from his aircraft, sparking a minor diplomatic incident.

On September 30, 1994, Albert Reynolds and the Irish and Russian greeting parties were left standing for over an hour as Mr Yeltsin’s plane inexplicably circled Shannon Airport. They then waited for a further 15 minutes after it landed, before they were told the president was too tired, and then too ill, to see them. It was rumoured that the vodka-loving leader had enjoyed his favourite tipple on the journey from Washington. He finally appeared in Moscow to set the record straight, saying, “I just overslept. The security services did not let in the people who were due to wake me”.

Mr Reynolds denied at the time he had been snubbed saying, “I completely understand. Mr Yeltsin was acting on the orders of doctors who said it would be better for him not to get off the plane. He suffers from bad blood pressure. When a man is ill, a man is ill”.

Mr Yeltsin arrived in Shannon on Thursday, almost 12 years after that diplomatic gaffe. On this occasion, there there were no dignitaries to meet him.

The former President was whisked off amid tight security to the fivestar Dromoland Castle where he stayed for three nights. Mr Yeltsin travelled to the Cliffs of Moher on Thursday and enjoyed a day’s sharkfishing on Friday off the Clare coast, breaking for lunch on Inis Oír. His boat, skippered by local man Willie O’Callaghan, returned to Liscannor shortly after 6pm.

Three officials from the Russian Embassy were on hand to meet Mr Yeltsin, who smiled and waved to a dozen or so onlookers. Although frail and requiring assistance alighting from the boat, Mr Yeltsin was in good spirits, sitting at the front of the private coach which awaited him and waving for photographers as he was driven away.

IN A defection not seen since the ending of the Cold War, Fianna Fáil councillor, PJ Kelly has confirmed that he is applying to join An Taisce.

The move by the leader of the Fianna Fáil group at Clare County Council will come as a surprise to many, as Cllr Kelly has excoriated An Taisce in various forums in recent times.

Recently, Cllr Kelly labelled An Taisce “Ireland’s only secret society that receives State recognition” and speculated that its number might include members from al-Qaeda and the CIA. Cllr Kelly has also christened members of An Taisce as “born-againsts”.

However, in a national radio discussion with the Director of An Taisce, Cllr Kelly said, “I am making my application here now (to join An Taisce) and I am hoping that your chairman will accept it over the airwaves.” In response, Mr Harte said, “Why wouldn’t he?”

Cllr Kelly said that he hoped he would not have to take an oath of allegiance over joining An Taisce.

He said, “I only know of one An Taisce member in Clare, my good friend Oliver Moylan, and I don’t know if there are other members and if there are, I certainly would love to know their names. There is a rumour circulating here that An Taisce holds its AGM in a phone box in O’Connell Square in Ennis.”

Cllr Kelly said that it was “totally unacceptable that we have a secret society and I would like to know who the plain-clothes members of An Taisce are”.

Cllr Kelly said that last year, An Taisce made 852 observations on planning applications in Clare.

“I don’t think the planning department should be clogged up by the frustrations of the bornagainsts.”

Green party councillor, Brian Meaney said yesterday, “It is a free country and anyone can apply to join any organisation if they wish, but I would be suspicious of Cllr Kelly’s motives in seeking to join. If PJ has seen the light, he can also apply to join the Green Party.”

FIANNA FÁIL Senator Brendan Daly is calling for the DPP to appeal last week’s decision by a jury to acquit five anti-war activists, who were charged with damaging a US plane at Shannon airport over three years ago.

In the wake of the jury’s decision, Senator Daly wrote to Attorney General Rory Brady, asking that the decision be appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

He also requested that the statement made by one of the accused, who pledged to shut down Shannon Airport, be sent to the DPP for direction on possible charges to be brought.

Pointing out that he was surprised by the verdict, Senator Daly said it sent out a “message that people can do damage to property and walk away. To add insult to injury, they (the defendants) then said they plan to cause further disruption at the airport.”

Labour Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, who hails from Clare, said she believed the verdict was “fair.”

“I would never condone damage to property, but I would share their opposition to the use of Shannon for rendition flights and soldiers going to war,” she said.

She said she would “totally disagree” with any attempts by members of the group to realise their threat to close the airport.

“I would certainly encourage them not to use any kind of method that will damage the operation of Shannon. My view is people are entitled to peaceful protest, but not anything else,” she added.

Meanwhile, anti-war activist Mary Kelly welcomed last week’s acquittal of the five defendants.

Ms Kelly (54) was given a twoyear suspended sentence for damaging the same plane at the centre of last week’s trial, after she was found guilty by a jury in Clare, in 2004.

“It has taken over three years to get this verdict. The court ruled that the disarming of a US warplane was lawful. Ordinary citizens took appropriate actions and this has been upheld by the court,” she told The Clare People .

“I was convicted for damaging this warplane. I chose to have the trial heard in county Clare, hoping that a Clare jury would take the opportunity to speak against the use of their airport for transport of belligerent foreign troops,” she said.

Weapons of Mass Destruction and kidnapped victims. The people of Ireland have appealed, lobbied, written letters, protested and taken direct action against the illegal use of Shannon. The government has refused to listen,” she said.

WORK began this week on the preliminary stages of a bypass for Kilrush town.

After more than a year campaigning and lobbying, the local HGV action group saw a new route around the east of the town get the green light.

But while work may be beginning, it is still very much at its infancy stage.

Kilrush area members of Clare County Council, Kilrush town councillors and members of the concerned action group met with senior engineers from the council last week, where it was explained that the bypass must first be part of a constraints study.

The study would look at the environmental impact of such a road in the area. It will also consider the engineering requirements.

The area considered capable of sustaining all heavy goods vehicles travelling to the Moneypoint Station and Roadstone is east of the West Clare capital, stretching from Knockerra Cross to Dunogrogue Cross to west of the Killimer car ferry and on to Ballynote Cross. The neighbouring woodlands will be excluded from the study.

On completion, the study will be put on public display. A decision will then be made whether to upgrade an existing route or build a new road.

Chairperson of the HGV Action Group, Barry Coppley, told The Clare People that while he was happy that some work had begun, the solution to the town’s HGV traffic difficulties was moving at a slower pace than he had hoped.

“We were hoping it would be at road selection stage by now. It is slow but it is moving along,” he said.

With the completion of the road years away, the council and local lobby group are now giving immediate attention to an interim solution, in the form of traffic calming measures.

Clare County Council is currently drawing up plans which will include up to six pedestrian crossings estimated to cost €6,000 each and eight islands costing between €2,000 and €3,000 each.

“Traffic calming measures are not going to solve the problem with the HGVs. They will slow down the traffic but they won’t deter them,” warned Mr Coppley.

The HGV Action group have been lobbying the council to solve the 26year-old traffic problem, which has seen heavy goods vehicles travelling to Moneypoint using the highly populated route through Lower Moore Street and Crawford Street and by St Senan’s Terrace and John Paul Estate.