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Safety Concerns Reportedly “Number One Reason” For Lack Of Walking And Cycling In Ennis

It’s being argued that safety is the number one reason more people in Ennis aren’t walking or cycling.

A motion at a recent meeting of Ennis Municipal District has sparked discussion around pedestrian crossing points in the county town, with calls abounding for more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

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The January meeting of Ennis’s local elected representatives has heard a claim from Councillor Antoinette Baker-Bashua that the county town’s roundabouts “lack clearly defined pedestrian crossings”.

This, it’s been suggested, leaves pedestrians “without priority” which she says creates “unsafe conditions” for vulnerable road users like children and older people.

Responding to her call for the installation of safe pedestrian crossing points at all roundabouts in the town, Ennis MD says “it is the intention to upgrade the roundabouts along the Limerick Road, Cusack Road and Gort Road”.

It’s also claimed that it will continue to make “incremental improvements for pedestrian safety throughout the town” while citing time and financial resources as barriers to progress.

Councillor Baker-Bashua says in the context of multiple road deaths in Clare last year, safety at roundabouts must be prioritised.

Clareabbey Roundabout between Ennis and Clarecastle has been one of the most controversial locations in the county in terms of road safety since its construction.

The local authority has recently issued an update on pedestrian and cyclist improvements at the intersection stating it’s “awaiting formal approval from TIl to make the appointment of engineering consultants to develop a preliminary and detailed design for pedestrian and cyclist facilities at this location”.

Clarecastle Sinn Féin Councillor Tommy Guilfoyle believes a raised pedestrian crossing is the best course of action.

Last week, it was announced that Clare would receive over €3.3 million in Active Travel funding, with more than €1.5 million going to the Tulla Road Active Travel Scheme and a number of schools being granted Safe Routes to School funding.

Ciaran Tiernan of community group Better Ennis insists Clare County Council needs to look at how difficult junctions are managed abroad in order to come up with the best solution to Ennis’s road safety woes.

Listen to the full interview here

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