Councillor Johnny Flynn resigns from Fine Gael

OUTGOING Ennis Municipal District Councillor Johnny Flynn has resigned as a member of the Fine Gael party he has confirmed.

In correspondence to Clare Fine Gael seen by The Clare Champion the Ennis councillor stated he is resigning his membership of the party as “it has been made apparent over the last week that the two current Ennis Municipal District Fine Gael councillors and other sitting  Fine Gael councillors  continue to fully support what I consider to be  destructive Council and Ennis 2040 DAC plans for Ennis town centre. This is despite that all councillors, including Fine Gael ones,  recieved written confirmation last October that a petition signed by 3,700 people was handed into the council opposing the plans.”

Councillor Flynn, who announced earlier this year he would not be seeking re-election, said he intends to continue to work and campaign as an independent citizen against the “controversial plans of the Council to hand over ownership/control to a private company  Ennis 2040 DAC of public lands”. He affirmed his continued opposition to proposals to develop the Abbey Street car park, Parnell Street car park and the main taxi rank and the Post Office field.

He stated his opposition to the building of a car park on the green area of Waterpark House, Drumbiggle, Ennis. (Former Ennis Town Council offices) saying this “would remove the commemorative garden and a scarce public park located there”.

The councillor also criticised the “unnecessary demolition” of cottages and a bungalow at the Francis Street site saying this “was not right at a time of a housing crisis”.