THE chair of Save Ennistymon’s Heritage insists the community has “waited long enough” for action to be taken on the infamous Blake’s Corner and is calling on Clare County Council to address the situation “urgently”.
Denis Vaughan was speaking after two tourists escaped injury in recent weeks at the corner when their car mounted a wall.
When contacted by The Clare Champion about the local concerns, Seán Lenihan, Senior Engineer, stated that Clare County Council is “absolutely committed to resolving the potential conflict that exists at Blakes Corner in Ennistymon”. The council are awaiting an An Bord Pleanala decision on plans to purchase land and buildings around the site to begin construction of a ‘relief road’ between the N85 and N67
Mr Vaughan recalled that the tourists’ car mounted the wall at the end of November.
“Besides causing traffic chaos at the busiest corner in Ireland and creating avoidable congestion, it is clearly dangerous.
“This situation is likely to continue and we shouldn’t wait two years as Clare County Council voted to build a bypass in Ennistymon in 2020. And what had been done since? Not enough. Surely two years is long enough to get construction started. We are calling for the council to get Ennistymon moving again as a matter of urgency.”
He continued, “Ennistymon has waited for over 70 years for this development.  We have waited long enough. Enough is enough.”
Responding to the comments, Mr Lenihan stated, “Clare County Council is absolutely committed to resolving the potential conflict that exists at Blakes Corner in Ennistymon.
“The public will be aware of our efforts to date in this regard and our plans which include a proposed new bridge upstream of the existing one and an inner relief road connecting the N85 to the N67.
“Planning permission for the new bridge has been secured and an application to CPO the necessary lands and buildings to construct the works was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in June 2020. Following their consideration of the Council’s application and the 13 no associated submissions received from the public following the publishing of the CPO Notice, An Bord Pleanála held a two-day Oral Hearing earlier this year on June 9 and 10, 2021.
“The Council’s Engineering and Planning Briefs of Evidence were presented to the Inspector on the day while the main property owners affected by the scheme were also permitted to make submissions and give evidence at the hearing if they so wished. We are now awaiting the An Bord Pleanála Inspector to make his recommendation to the Board as to whether the CPO should be confirmed or not. An Bord Pleanála is completely independent therefore their decision-making process is outside of the Council’s control but it is hoped that we will hear something before the end of the year.
“This will inform our next course of action in relation to the overall project. If the CPO is rejected, then we will have to consider what alternative options are available to us at that stage. However, if the CPO is confirmed, then we will move at pace to complete the detailed design immediately thereafter and prepare the Tender documentation for the procurement of a Contractor.
“On receipt of Tenders and following detailed assessment of same, we will make a recommendation to TII for the appointment of the successful bidder. Subject to TII approval, construction works can commence on this much needed infrastructure as soon as possible and will take approximately 16/18 months to complete.”