Over 3,500 people have signed a petition calling on Clare County Council to reverse controversial plans that would see car parks in Ennis being redeveloped for mixed used developments.
The plans form part of an investment and spatial development strategy being progressed by Ennis 2040 Designated Activity Company, a 100% owned subsidiary of Clare County Council.
But some residents and business owners in Ennis have expressed concern in relation to the plans, especially the loss of several car parks in the town which would be redeveloped for a mixed-used development.
There has been growing opposition to the plan and a newly established group - Save Ennis Town - organised a petition against the plans.
Yesterday as the monthly meeting of Clare County Councilors was taking place, a large group of protestors walked from the centre of Ennis to Clare County Council offices to present the petition to the authority.
Over 3,500 people have signed that petition calling on the council to reverse the plans and retain the car parks for public use.
John O'Connor from the Save Ennis Town group said that the loss of car parking spaces would be hugely detrimental to businesses in Ennis.
"Shoppers and visitors to Ennis need carparking spaces," he said. "If we lose these car parks people will choose to go elsewhere such as Limerick and Gort where there are plenty of free car parking spaces.
"If this goes ahead it will be to the detriment of the town. Building offices and apartments on these car parks makes no sense. We are calling on the council to listen to the wishes of the people of Ennis and scrap this plan," Mr O'Connor said.
However, the Ennis 2040 company rejected the claims being made by the business owners. In a statement the company said that according to its analysis, there would still be adequate parking facilities in Ennis.
It stated: "There is currently one parking space for every 13 people living in Ennis. To put this into context, Waterford City has one parking space for every 29 people. Navan - a town not dissimilar in size and population to Ennis - has one parking space for every 24 people."
The company added: "The rollout of Active Travel during 2023 and 2024 will further improve access to the town and a new bus service for Ennis by 2025. Through our TY programme, we know that our young population want to see less cars on the road and are pushing for bike schemes, more cycle lanes and more."
Ennis 2040 stated that Ennis must do its part in meeting climate change goals.
The company said its stated goal is to attract more inward investment to Ennis. It said that the redevelopment would see hundreds of new jobs created and lead to an increase of 20,000 in footfall in the town every week.
Both Clare County Council and Ennis 2040 said that there would be a period of public consultation on the plans later this year.
