March 24th.  For further information click here www.claresupportedemployment.ie

The Chamber position is as follows:

The Chamber has confirmed that “despite a majority of businesses in the proposed pedestrianised areas reporting reduced sales whenever pedestrianisation has been implemented in the past, they are prepared to support the experiment, in a spirit of partnership”. The Chamber suggested that, provisionally, the experiment should run from 05 June until 18 December and underlined that, at this stage, businesses are not prepared to support any attempt to extend the scope of pedestrianisation beyond Saturdays.

The Chamber also made it clear that there is a strong preference amongst businesses and, indeed, amongst a significant proportion of the older demographic of the local customers, for the streets to be pedestrianised for the time period of 12pm-6pm. This timeframe permits suppliers and car-based customers, particularly those shopping for larger goods, to access businesses in the morning.

In return for this risk being taken by businesses, and in the spirit of partnership, local businesses are looking for a contribution from the Council, as follows:

- a highly visible information and promotions campaign, including signage, promoting the unique benefits of shopping in Ennis on pedestrianised Saturdays. This campaign should be national.

- an agreed review process, whereby the impact of pedestrianisation on businesses, customers, residents and public services is measured. This results of this review will be analysed and discussed before any extension of the pedestrianisation, beyond the trial period agreed above

- a free parking initiative, perhaps time-limited, to further encourage footfall

- amendment of bye-laws to permit on-street trading in pedestrianised areas by cafes and restaurants

The Chamber is also close to agreeing with the Council the running in parallel to this trial, the implementation of a review of parking in Ennis, generally, which could include looking at zoning and tiered pricing structures. The Council has indicated that they would look favourably at businesses participating in this review.

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Ennis West
Caherbannagh Creamery,
Fork of road at Bushypark,
Kilmaley Church Car Park,
Community Centre at Kilnamona,

Ennis East
Ballyea Church,
Clarecastle Car Park,
Quin – Latoon Road at Maigh Dara Housing Estate,
Clooney Church

East Clare
GAA Pitch Killaloe
Garronboy Chapel
Kealderra Road O Callaghansmills
Clonloumn Cross O Callaghansmills
Killuran Cementry O Callaghansmills
Fermoyle Cross R465
Decoursey Bridge Griffen Cross Clonlara
Trough Church Sixmilbridge

West Clare
The Old Creamery , Coolmeen Road, Kildysart.
Side road adjacent to Taltys Joinery Lissycasey.
GAA Field Cooraclare.
Car Park Kilmihil.
East end carpark Kilkee.
The Square Carrigaholt.
Sean Crowleys yard (opposite L+M Keating) Kilmihil.
Bogdale House Lisroe, Kilmaley.
Boree Log, Lissycasey

North Clare
GAA pitch car park, Miltown Malbay
Church Car Park, Inagh
Kilnaboy Grave Yard chip dump
GAA pitch car park, Carron
Church Car Park, Ballyvaughan
Church Car Park, Ruan
Public Car Park, Lisdoonvarna
Crag Car Park, Lahinch
Square, Kilfenora

Shannon Area and South Clare.
Leamaneigh Cemetry
Entrance to Cratloe Woods on Gallows Hill, Cratloe
Entrance to Forestry at Coolycasey Cross on the SMB to Clonlara Road
Oatfield Church off the SMB to Clonlara Road

- The ‘Ennis Gold’ Gift Voucher

- Signs on strategic roundabouts around town and print ads [opposite] in regional press

- Christmas Shopping Campaign, jointly with Ennis Town Council, including pedestrianisation, free parking offers and creation of festive atmosphere on streets. Many shops will have Sunday and late opening hours

- appearances by CEO and President on regional radio stations

In addition, Clare FM are currently running their own ‘Shop Local’ campaign. Many thanks to them for their support.

Download Christmas Shopping Flyer Here

Any businesses with an immediate need for assistance over the coming weekend, be it to clear stock, mop out premises, stack sandbags or anything else, please contact our 24-hour Rapid Reaction No 0862448834 and we will get volunteers to you as soon as possible. We will also be able to assist in providing a skip to clear damaged goods and rubbish from premises and provide storage space for stock and fittings. We continue to seek offers for assistance with water pumps.

To volunteer to join the Rapid Reaction Force, and offer even an hour of your time, please contact us at info@ennischamber.ie or text us on 0862448834

In particular, the group agreed actions in the following areas:

• To co-ordinate a service for those looking for short let temporary accommodation
• To co-ordinate offers of free accommodation
• To communicate postive messages, through media, that Ennis is “open for business”
• Clean Ireland offered to waive fees for the clearance of flood debris in any business or dwelling
• Ryan’s Quarries have offered free use of their ‘block truck’ for removal of large items
• to coordinate any temp storage requirements that businesses or families may have
• to empahsise urgency to Council of clearing flood waters from basements of Bindon St
• to promote an initiative by the Lions Club to fundraise for flood victims
• to explore ways of assisting businesses experiencing difficulty with insurance claims
• in the future, to examine how to improve communication between the Crisis Management Group and the business community

Any offers of support, under these headings, or further offers please contact info@ennischamber.ie

The meeting gave a huge thank-you to the emergency services for their work to date. Gratitude was also expressed to Ger Dollard, Town Manager, for his clear briefing to the meeting, updating the situation on flood relief works. Ennis Town Council was also congratulated on a tough job well done.

CLICK HERE TO BUY ONLINE TODAY

Over 70 local businesses in the town are taking part in the scheme and many are reporting that customers are cashing in their vouchers in the post-Christmas Sales.

Chamber President Guy Flouch highlights that “an important bonus of the scheme is that it has ensured that your gift is bought in Ennis, providing a much-needed boost to local retailers. Similar schemes in other towns have underlined that that vouchers such as these have proven very popular gifts but have an important shop local dimension to them”

Guy highlights an important dimension of the scheme in that “numbers of the vouchers are being bought by customers in the UK or the US which ensures that, wherever they are, the Clare diaspora can still shop in Ennis”

The vouchers are available from Record Rack and the offices of Ennis Chamber or St Francis Credit Union, who are sponsoring the scheme. They are also available for purchase from this website.

Participation in the initiative is absolutely free for Chamber members with a participation charge for non-members. There are absolutely no handling or other fees for participating stores. All participating stores are listed in the gift wallet and given a window or till sticker to advertise their participation in the scheme. Participating stores are also listed on this website.

For more information, retailers should contact Karen, Ennis Gold Executive, at the Ennis Chamber on 065-684-2988

You can purchase vouchers online here

Participating Businesses

One aspect of the promotional iniative is the proposal to pedestrianise Abbey Street, O’Connell Square and O’Connell Street on Saturday 5th, 12th, 19th and Sunday 20th December and Christmas Eve. These streets will be pedestrianised from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on these specified dates.

In the event of this limited pedestrianisation proposal being accepted, the Chamber and the Council will work together on creating a festive atmosphere in the pedestrianised areas. Proposals include the broadcasting of festive music on the streets, encouraging local choirs to sing in O’Connell Square and permitting local cafes to put tables outside their premises, from where they can sell hot drinks and mince pies.

Eddie Power, Town Clerk said “we are conscious of the need to bring business to the town particularly in the current economic climate. The town has a lot to offer the Christmas Shopper and the proposed pedestrianisation iniative will enhance the shopping experience. ”

Ennis Chamber has liaised with Ennis National School, Holy Family School and Colaiste Muire in relation to the provision of additional parking facilities, which will be available on the pedestrianised days. All-day parking will be available in these car-parks for Eur3 per day.

The Christmas lighting scheme in the streets together with the Christmas Tree in the Market will be officially switched on Friday 4th December.

The Chamber is planning to launch an Annual Christmas Festival from December 2010 and welcomes all and any suggestions for component elements of this festival.