Controversial plans to develop "world class" retail, office and residential buildings on the site of two of the main car parks in Ennis have been put on hold.
The multimillion-euro developments are part of the Ennis 2040 plan, which also promised 5,000 new jobs, 450 new homes and extensive public amenities but was met with protest marches and a petition from a local opposition group called Save Ennis Town.
Ennis 2040 is a designated activity company (DAC) set up and owned by Clare County Council to plan and develop strategic sites in the town following consultation with local businesses and elected representatives.
It promised "a remarkable renewal" for the Clare county town as it is predicted to grow from a population of 28,000 to 37,000 within the next 15 years.
Campaigners said that major aspects of the plan, specifically along the River Fergus at the Abbey Street and Parnell Street car parks, would destroy the town's medieval heritage and wipe out small businesses.
Developments have been "paused" according to the new Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Ennis 2040, Padraig McElwee.
He told RTÉ’s Drivetime that "having listened to the feedback" and spoken to local councillors, his recommendation was to pause the projects and "reflect on what has been said and look at where the future for Ennis is".
Asked about the ongoing viability of the Ennis 2040 plan now, Mr McElwee insisted it’s "still very much alive".
He expressed confidence the town "has a fantastic future" pointing to a new housing development at the Causeway Quarter in Ennis near the recently opened new €17 million county library and "some very strategic new announcements" to be made in the coming weeks which will be "positively received and of huge benefit" locally, he said.
Asked about public funding of €2.2m made available for the early stages of Ennis 2040 by Clare County Council, the Interim COO insisted "that money is not wasted" adding that the Abbey Street and Parnell Street Car Parks were "identified as some of the key strategic sites" when the original plan was drafted.
He added that the team were obligated to look at how they should be developed.
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Ideally, he said, "it would have been great" if they had "everybody's agreement" but without that, now it would be "responsible of us to sit back and see what is best for Ennis".
There has been broad welcome among elected members of Clare County Council’s Ennis Municipal District to the news, while the Save Ennis Town campaign has expressed relief at plans being paused.
Chairperson of Save Ennis Town Gearoid Mannion said while many local business people were "happy with lots of aspects of the Ennis 2040 plans, we were not at all happy with the elimination of civic spaces and car parks".
Expressing the view that "businesses will die if there is no car parking", the travel consultant said that while he welcomes plans for an Ennis bus service this year, park and ride facilities and greater cycling and pedestrian access, "cars still need somewhere to park".
"It was crazy, it made no sense. We just felt they were putting the cart before the horse".
With local speculation on a number of commercially sensitive new announcements expected for Munster’s largest town in the near future, Ennis Chamber also points to other positive developments in the Clare capital with a number of new businesses setting up in vacant retail units as the town’s main shopping streets are being rejuvenated through an €11.5 million public realm scheme.
Disruption caused by ongoing construction of the new street paving and footpaths has led to "a difficult few years" according to local Estate Agent Diarmuid McMahon, "but it’s a fantastic investment in the town centre", he added, pointing to "much less" retail vacancy now with empty shop units "starting to be filled".
Asked if the contentious Ennis 2040 plans to build on car parks combined with the major new Streetscape Project was too much too soon for Ennis, the former Ennis Chamber president said "that was quite challenging, particularly when we didn't have a clearer view in terms of what access to the town would be".
He said that "Ennis has been very much focused on parking", because that was "really our only way to get into town and it is always going to be a part of the mix" in terms of accessibility.
Expressing confidence in the Ennis 2040 plan and the need for such a vision, Mr McMahon observed that "staying still isn't an option" and "if you don't have that plan when funding becomes available from Government, you're not going to get the funding".
He also called for greater positivity, as there’s been "too much discussion in terms of what we don’t want" he said.
"We need start focusing on what we do want (for the future)".
