ENNIS is crying out for a town bus and active travel infrastructure, says Clare Green Party Senator Ròisín Garvey.

The Inagh-based politician is highlighting traffic congestion while calling on the County Council “to prioritise spending available for active travel funding on better, safer and more cycle lanes, footpaths and pedestrian crossings”.

She said, “Even if all cars switched to electric overnight, we would still have the exact same traffic congestion issues.

“The only way forward is to focus on reducing car dependency and prioritising active travel infrastructure and a town bus service.

“I know from working with children and parents in all the Ennis schools over many years that the will is there to allow children walk and cycle to school, if the proper infrastructure is put in place.

“Many of the roads leading into our beautiful town already have the width for such infrastructure and the Department of Transport are offering the funding.

“Where there’s a will there’s a way. Increase of this infrastructure would then reduce car parking space demand and traffic congestion which is particularly bad on the school run.

“Our community would be healthier, happier and fitter and it is a well known fact that when you increase active travel infrastructure, you also increase spend in the town centre shops.

“There is always going to be a need for space for cars but we need to look at increasing space for walking and cycling also.”

When contacted by The Clare Champion a spokesperson for Clare County Council stated, “Clare County Council has been allocated substantial funding from the National Transport Authority to progress Active Travel projects across County Clare. The approved projects are either in progress or completed.

“The Active Travel programme is a multi-annual funding programme and Clare County Council intend to apply for additional projects under future funding calls.”