A group representing the business community of Ennis says the proposed permanent pedestrianisation of the town’s main street is the best outcome they could’ve hoped for.
Clare County Council has declared its intention to fully pedestrianise O’Connell Street from March of this year, with a grace period in the morning to facilitate deliveries, bin collections and those with reduced mobility.
The announcement follows a survey run from December 8th to January 4th, which received 1,464 responses.
Of those who contributed, 57% said they’d like to see some form of pedestrianisation on O’Connell Street, with one in four wanting this seven days a week.
The local authority also engaged with 70 businesses in the town as part of this process, 48 of which were on O’Connell Street.
It found that two thirds of these favoured a hybrid approach, with just over half of this cohort saying traffic on the route should be limited to mornings.
Under the proposal to be submitted by the local authority, the road will be permanentally pedestrianised outside of the period from 6am to 11am each day.
Retailers of Ennis chairperson and owner of Custy’s Music Shop John O’Connor says while he would’ve preferred traffic access later in the evening, he welcomes the measure.
Details of the proposal will now be published under Section 38 of the Roads Act.
Members of the public can make submissions or observations in relation to the plans by emailing [email protected] or writing to the Administrative Officer at Clare County Council.
Ennis Muncipal District Acting Senior Engineer, Paddy Tiernan believes it’s essential to include a window for those who need to access the street by vehicle to do so.
You can listen to the full interview here:
