Ennis Chamber - In business for Business

In response to the recent proposal by Ennis Town Council to implement an experimental pedestrianisation of Ennis Town Centre on Saturdays, the Chamber convened a meeting of interested businesses, following which representatives of the Chamber met officials from the Council.

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.