Coaching new business for Ennis

PLANS to increase coach tourism in Ennis are being driven forward with the announcement this week that the lower part of the Friars Walk car park is to be converted to a coach park.
At Tuesday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, a draft scheme for the coach park was outlined to councillors. This is part of extensive plans to promote Ennis as a destination for coach tourism. It has already seen additional bus and coach parking spaces allocated in the Friars Walk area, adjacent to Clare Museum.
According to the draft scheme the coach park will have a tap facility available for coach washing and a waste water disposal facility. The overall park would be covered by CCTV, which would be linked to Glór, where drivers could stay for the duration of their passengers’ visit to the town.
The plan allows for coach drivers to drop off and pick up passengers next to the County Museum building.
According to Ennis town manager Ger Dollard, “Ennis Town Council has been examining ways in which the availability of coach parking facilities within the town centre area could be improved. The availability of such facilities in very central locations is seen as essential in attracting coach visitors to the town.
“Since the opening of the Ennis Bypass, the necessity for coaches to travel to the town has been greatly reduced and, as a result, all stakeholders in the town need to work together to attract coach tours to spend some time in Ennis. To be successful in such an approach, there are many elements that need to be provided to a high standard including coach parking facilities.
“In recent weeks, Ennis Town Council has extended the coach parking facilities available in the Friars Walk car park, providing two additional bays for large coaches and one additional bay for a smaller coach. The council has also been looking at a more long term arrangement to create a first class coach parking facility in Ennis, so as to attract additional coach business to the town.”
This included consultation with coach operators who indicated provision of a waste water disposal facility, washing facility and secure arrangements would be attractive.
Mr Dollard emphasised the proposals are still at draft stage and that the input of elected members is welcome.
“It is accepted that some deficiencies may exist in relation to the overall proposal and on which further work will be required. Issues including security of the area and charging for the facilities need to be further explored. However, it is also seen as an opportunity to create a unique selling point for Ennis with very modern coach parking facilities available within minutes walk from the town centre.”
At the meeting, Councillor Brian Meaney urged that the local authority also provide an area for camper van parking. However, Mr Dollard outlined that it is not the intention to facilitate overnight parking.
Councillor Meaney also called for coach parking facilities at the offices of Clare County Council saying drivers were finding it difficult to park when paying for their tax.
Councillor Johnny Flynn welcomed the plan to increase coach tourism. “When you look at the collapse of tourism business, with business through Shannon down a third, it’s important that we look towards coach tourism. This could bring in an additional €250,000 expenditure in the town every week. This is showing that Ennis is open for business.”
Councillor Tommy Brennan raised concern that revenue could be lost by replacing long term car parking, while Councillor Frankie Neylon described the plan as a “huge asset to the town.”
Mayor of Ennis Councillor Michael Guilfoyle also gave his support to the draft proposal, with Councillor Mary Coote Ryan adding, “I’m delighted that this will allow people to be dropped off so close to the centre of the town”.
Mr Dollard told councillors there is still a lot of consultation to be done in terms of the draft plan and that issues need to be addressed. He outlined that while the coach park is not expected to be complete for this summer season, it will be “pushed as strongly as we can”.
In a recent submission from the business community to Ennis Town Council, it was estimated that a coach of visitors can spend up to €3,000 on a short day trip of shopping in the town. The recent allocation of additional coach spaces has been widely welcomed by both the business community and local coach operators.