A newly formed group representing a number of Ennis businesses is calling on the local authority to reverse some of the temporary pedestrianisation measures in the town.
Clare County Council introduced their mobility plan at the beginning of the pandemic, allowing people to maintain social distancing in the streets.
Abbey Street and O Connell Street are currently closed to traffic from 11am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
Mary Kelly, treasurer of the newly formed Retailers of Ennis group and a retailer on O’Connell Street, believes alternative measures need to be put in place to help the town’s businesses as they begin to open up again this week.
Responding, the Mayor of Ennis says the measures will remain in place as long as COVID-19 is still with us.
Clare County Council say the plan is under continuous review, with the annual Christmas pedestrianisation provisions currently being examined.
Councillor Paul Murphy believes the plan has worked well and has been received positively by the majority of Ennis businesses.
Clare County Council statement:
The Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan for Ennis is in place for reasons of public health and wellbeing in line with Government Covid-19 restrictions. There are no proposed changes to the Mobility Plan at this moment but the Plan remains under continual review and, as always, will be reviewed at the next stakeholders’ meeting.
We are currently reviewing the annual Christmas pedestrianisation provisions.
The Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan for Ennis enables citizens to access the Town Centre safely and people in Ennis are encouraged to shop local over the Christmas period.
