Last Call for public input to Ennis Local Transport Plan
Final call to have your say re: Ennis Local Transport Plan consultation
In May, a delegation from Ennis Chamber attended a special consultation on Ennis Local Transport Plan for the business community. Held at the Civic Room, Drumbiggle Road, there was a detailed presentation by consultants Systra. Senior Engineer Eamon O’Dea, Clare County Council, was also on hand to talk through the detail with the businesses in attendance. Since then Ennis LTP has been made available for public consultation, online, also in the County Library and Clare County Council HQ on New Road.
Ennis LTP has been developed in line with the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) methodology, which prioritises land use and environmental considerations.
A key stated aim of Ennis LTP is to reduce car dependence. While that’s a difficult ask in the absence of a town bus/ adequate public transport, according to the NTA the new Ennis Town Bus service will be up and running by year end. Once in place, the 2 x routes will offer services to run 18 hours per day. Seven in 10 Ennis residents will live within 400 metres of a bus stop and nine of 10 within 800 metres of a bus stop.
The online version of Ennis LTP is user-friendly. You can see comments already posted against each element of the plan, agree or disagree with those comments and or add your own (comments are anonymised).
The detailed plan has a 15 year phased approach.
Amongst key future changes contained in the draft plan are:
- Pedestrian priority on O’Connell St, Abbey St, Salthouse Lane, High St plus sections of Bank Place and a section of Francis St.
- A proposed one-way system on Mill Road
- ‘Park and Stride’ facilities proposed at: Ennis Mart, Ennis Train Station, The Showgrounds, Cloughleigh Road, College Road and Council Offices.
To find out more about what’s proposed for the town centre and wider afield, and to have your say, follow this link: https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/ennis-local-transport-plan
The deadline for public feedback is Friday (June 27)
