Plans for a motorway plaza on the outskirts of Ennis have received over 180 submissions in support of the project.
The majority of the files, lodged yesterday with Clare County Council, have been submitted by residents of the Clarecastle area.
There have been a number of signifiant objections to the development too, with these coming from sources including the Ennis business community, a local landowner, a county councillor and the operators of a service station chain.
The proposed multimillion euro plaza is being developed by Pat McDonagh of Supermacs who has previously developed the Barak Obama Plaza at Monegal on the M7.
The closing date for submissions on the plaza, proposed for a site at Doora, off the M18 motorway outside Ennis, was yesterday.
By that deadline, a total of 187 submissions were filed on behalf of individuals saying they wish to ‘offer full support’ for the deveopment.
Planners say those came from people with addresses in ‘the general Clarecastle area’ and were handed in by an agent.
Meanwhile, other significant submissions have been less positive.
One submission, objecting to the development, on grounds including the possible impact on trade in the town centre, comes jointly from 10 companies – four hotels, four convenience retailers, two clothing outlets; all in Ennis; and a supermarket and service station in Crusheen.
Opposing the development also are Petrogas, a subsidiary of Applegreen which operates over 170 service stations throughout the country. They argue that there are issues with the scale and design of the proposed development, and that there has been a failure to properly assess the impact on existing retail facilities.
Petrogas also contends that giving permission for a service plaza outside Ennis would underminean online facility which Transport Infrastructure Ireland is proposing to develop close to Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Another objector is Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn, who argues that the project is contrary to the County Development Plan, as well as Rural Development and Digital Strategies for the county.
Concerns have also been raised by chartered civil engineer Michael Duffy over issues including traffic hazard, the impact on Ennis town centre and a failure to comply with local, regional and national planning plans.
An objection on behalf of a local landowner, Shane Brigdale, cites concerns about the potential impact on the future use of his property adjacent to the plaza site in Doora.
The Sky Court Shopping Centre in Shannon has also made a submission, but in this case, it just asks for ‘the opportunity to be involved in the decision making process following a review of the project and the submitted documentation’.
And a submission from Philip E Misele of Ennis representing the Clare Electronic Vehicle Owners Facebook Group commends the developers for their ‘forward thinking’ in providing 16 electric car charging points at the proposed plaza.
The group believes the charging point will boost tourism among those using EVs.
Clare County Council is now considering the planning application and the submissions.
It’s given September 4 as a decision date on the project. However, given the complexity of the application, it’s likely that Further Information will be sought from the developer.
