Regional

FOLLOWING last week’s official opening of a new section of the Ennis Inner Relief Road project, Ennis Town Council has appealed to motorists to exercise caution in the vicinity of the Holy Family Junior and Senior Schools on Friars’ Walk.The local authority says the opening to traffic of the new single-carriageway road has led to an increase in traffic along the remainder of the Inner Relief Road, which includes a school crossing on Friars’ Walk.“This newly opened section of road linking Station Road with the Clare Road will have a significant positive impact on traffic and I would appeal to all road users to comply with the rules of the road,” explained Leonard Cleary, Ennis Town Clerk.Mr Cleary said Ennis Town Council has written to the principals of the Holy Family Junior and Senior Schools asking them to notify parents of the importance of motorists strictly adhering to double yellow lines and junction boxes close to the school.     “With increased …

ENNIS Town Council this week announced details of a parking incentive scheme in a move to promote Christmas and new-year shopping in the county capital.Free parking will be applicable to the town’s 759 off-street and 783 on-street public car parking spaces up to 12pm daily until January 6, 2013.   Free parking will also be available in Cloughleigh Car Park all day until January 6.Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine commented, “Ennis boasts a wide ranging and quality shopping experience that will be further enhanced by this free-parking initiative. I call on the people of Ennis and surrounding areas to avail of the free parking scheme and to show their support for local businesses. “The proposed pedestrianisation of Ennis on December 15, 22, 23 and 24 coupled with other initiatives in the town, supported by Ennis Town Council, should make Ennis a very attractive shopping destination during the festive period,” added Mayor Considine. Ennis Chamber president, Brian O’Neill, said the free parking …

SHANNON Town Council’s budget for 2013 was passed on Monday evening, although council members clashed on certain aspects of it.The council’s expenditure is projected to drop by €4,000 next year, declining to €141,000. The town rate is to remain at €2.11.In the draft budget document, Shannon Town manager Bernadette Kinsella said funding is tight. “The draft budget has been prepared in a continuing difficult economic climate. This is reflected in a reduction of funds available from Clare County Council and the maintenance of commercial rates at 2010 levels in recognition of the demands being placed on the business community.“The draft budget sets out the amounts necessary for the council to fund its operations for the coming year. Gross expenditure is estimated at €141,000 and projected income is estimated at €41,000. This results in a net expenditure of €100,000 and represents the demand from Clare County Council for 2013. This level of demand does not necessitate an increase in the town …

THERE is a good level of interest in the controversial €5 million Glaise na Rinne affordable and step-down housing development, this week’s meeting of Shannon Town Council heard.Town manager Bernadette Kinsella told the meeting the 22 houses are going to cost a total €5.297m of public money to build, with the council and the Department of the Environment contributing.In her report to the meeting, she stated some of the cost would be recouped in the event of the council deciding to complete the project by building 38 more houses, something that was envisaged as the second phase of the development. “In accordance with the design, planning and tendering proposals, the major infrastructural services for the development of the total 60 units were provided with the Phase 1 development. These include water and waste water services, roads and associated services. A proportionate sum of these costs will be recouped by the council in any further phases of development.“The economic climate and …

More than 5,000 leaflets have been printed by a traders’ association outlining the reasons why people should shop and dine locally.‘Love Local’ is the new campaign launched by the Ballina-Killaloe Business Association to get local shoppers and diners to spend local. Members of the Ballina-Killaloe Business Association want to strengthen the local economy and to develop the future of the two towns.As Mariam O’Donovan, chairperson of the association explains, the choice and value for money is there for locals and visitors. “That’s why we have developed a Love Local campaign to encourage people to shop local. By shopping and dining locally, people will be helping the local economy, ensuring the safety of local jobs and generating a feel-good factor, especially in the retail and hospitality sectors. This is vital now more than ever due to the difficult economic environment. “To succeed, this campaign needs people to make a genuine effort, and we are asking all the people of Ballina and …

Clare County Council expects to take the Westbury estate in charge in the first quarter of the new year. Councillors Cathal Crowe and Pascal Fitzgerald tabled a joint motion at Tuesday’s Killaloe Electoral Area council meeting calling on the director of services for planning to give a comprehensive update and expected timescale for the taking in charge of the Westbury estate.In a formal reply to the motion Ger Dollard director of services for planning, community and enterprise and economic development stated, “Our best assessment at this point is that, subject to a satisfactory outcome with the bondholder, that the overall process will be completed in the first quarter of 2013”. He outlined that the council “has assigned considerable resources” to deal with issues relating to the taking in charge of Westbury development and that the estate is on an extensive list of estates not taken in charge by the council for a variety of reasons. “There are a range of …

There are three too many houses at 1 Main Street, Whitegate, a meeting of the Killaloe Electoral Area councillors has heard. According to Councillor Pat Burke, there are four No. 1 houses on Main Street, Whitegate, and following the need for emergency services recently at another house, of which there are three houses with the same address, he decided to raise the issue.Councillor Burke called on Clare County Council to name and provide signage for the two local authority estates in Whitegate village. The proposed names are Cregg View Road for the older estate and Lakyle Park for the newer estate.He explained that an ­ambulance attended the wrong house recently, as there were three such addresses in Whitegate and he said there was nothing to distinguish the houses between each other for the emergency services.“While the postmen do ­generally know where people live, we need something to establish which estates are which. “It appears that addresses were never sorted out, …

An East Clare county councillor has described the location of newly erected speed limit signs in Whitegate as “baffling” and has called for the signs’ location to be reviewed and changed at the earliest opportunity.