Call for report on Blake’s Corner

A report due earlier this year on the future of the iconic Blake’s Corner has still not been supplied to public representatives in North Clare, it emerged this week.
The corner, which one local councillor claimed is “doing untold damage to the economy of Ennistymon”, is the site of two well-known buildings, Blake’s and Linnane’s, and is known for traffic tailbacks, particularly in the high season.
Despite what Councillor Joe Arkins saw as assurances that the report would be ready within three weeks of the May area meeting, “three weeks have passed at least twice now and we haven’t heard anything”.
“It doesn’t come down to protocol but to good manners,” Councillor Arkins stated. He asked why there had been no further correspondence from the council to local representatives on the matter, adding “If we are going to be accused of cloak and dagger, we are leaving ourselves open to it.”
At the March meeting of North Clare councillors, Councillor Richard Nagle requested an update on the position regarding the improvement of Blake’s Corner from Clare County Council’s director of services, roads.
At the May meeting the matter was again raised. Tom Tiernan, senior roads engineer, confirmed that a draft report has been prepared identifying a couple of likely options for the future of the corner, such as taking down and reconstructing the main components of the buildings. He said the reason it hadn’t been circulated was because it is still only in draft form and that there were “reservations about it going into the public arena when it’s not complete”.
Responding to Councillor Arkins’ questions on Monday last, Stephen Lahiffe, senior executive engineer, Ennistymon Area Office, stated that the situation remained the same as it was in May that the report “is with outside consultants and is not yet completed”.
Councillor Arkins expressed his disappointment that the Director of Services had not written to councillors to inform them of the most up-to-date situation.
Councillor Richard Nagle called for pressure to be applied to the consultants, saying that a short visit to the areas would “emphasise for anyone the urgency of it”.
“It is doing untold damage to the economy of Ennistymon and the economy of the whole of North Clare,” he went on.
“It is a disincentive for people to do business in Ennisytmon and a disincentive for buses also,” Councillor Nagle added. He stressed the need to urgently deal with the difficulties at the corner, describing it as an “absolute nightmare for every vehicle using that junction at the moment”.
“It is a danger for pedestrians and there are a huge number of pedestrians in Ennistymon at the moment thankfully,” Councillor Nagle went on, adding that the impression visitors to the area were getting was “extremely negative.”
Councillor Arkins concluded by asking “For what reason is the issuing of this report to members being delayed?”