Mixed views have been expressed over a Barack Obama style plaza on the outskirts of Ennis, after the owner of Supermacs signalled his intention to lodge fresh plans for the ten million euro development.
Pat McDonagh has published a notice of his intention to lodge planning permission for a motorway service station on the M18 motorway at Skehanagh, for the second time of asking.
It’s been four years since the owner of Supermacs originally lodged planning permission for a motorway service station outside Ennis.
Pat McDonagh, who already owns the Obama Plaza at Moneygall in Co. Offally and another near the M6 at Loughrea in Co Galway, hoped to be the first to develop such a station on the motorway linking Limerick and Galway.
Clare County Council gave the development the green light in 2016, but An Bord Planeala subsequently overturned the decision on a number of grounds.
It found that the proposed development, by reason of its design, wouldn’t integrate satisfactorily with the rural and predominantly flat landscape in the hinterland of Ennis.
The application was withdrawn at the time, but now, Pat Mc Donagh is to lodge fresh plans for the development with the promise of 100 jobs in the operation phase and a further 80 during construction.
Ennis Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn fears that if the project goes ahead at that location, small businesses nearby could be hit.
But the Mayor of Ennis believes the development will have the opposite affect, saying such an investment is a great endorsement for the town.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy believes it will draw more visitors into Ennis and in turn boost the local economy.
