The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
TRAFFIC levels are leaving residents of Corrovorrin and St Senan’s Road in Ennis “frustrated”, a meeting of local councillors has heard. Among the solutions suggested was a mini-roundabout in the area.
Councillor Ann Norton, at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, asked that a traffic survey be carried out at the exit of Corrovorrin and St Senan’s Road to investigate the viability of the traffic-calming measure. She commented, “Residents in the area are quite concerned and frustrated; there is quite a lot of traffic.”
Eamon O’Dea, senior executive engineer, told the meeting that a proposal funded by a Low Cost Safety Scheme went through a public consultation process for traffic-calming and was withdrawn at approval stage at Ennis Town Council, as approval was not forthcoming from the councillors.
He explained, “The key issue in the withdrawal of the previous proposal was the position of the local shop to the junction and the requirements under road design guidelines that eliminated existing set down parking adjacent to the junction.”
He continued by saying, “The provision of a mini-roundabout to cater for both Kevin Barry Avenue and St Senan’s Road would not be feasible due to the layout.”
Mr O’Dea stated that the traffic counts carried out for the previous application would still be accurate and that these were below those needed for a mini-roundabout. He concluded that the council could look at temporary arrangements to slow traffic in the area.
Meanwhile, the Ennis Municipal District office are to examine possible improvement works at Fergus Park. This comes following calls by Councillor Johnny Flynn, who said that the works are necessary on health and safety grounds for the “well established” Ennis estate.
The councillor urged that provision be made in the roads programme for works to be carried out at Fergus Park. These included ensuring green areas and utility boxes are kept in clean condition and repairs to footpaths and surface water drains.
Councillor Flynn also asked that an additional length of double yellow lines be provided at the entrance to the estate from New Road “to deal with unsafe car parking close to the junction.”
Responding to the motion, Eamon O’Dea, said, “The municipal district roads office will examine the surface water drains and footpaths at Fergus Park and will discuss the provision of double yellow lines with the gardaí and traffic section.
“There is an ongoing issue with the utility boxes at the entrance to Fergus Park and the municipal district office will contact the utility provider. The utility boxes on the entrance road were in good condition at time of inspection.
Jessica Quinn
