Motorists shun Cloughleigh Road pay-and-display

Previously among the most packed-up parking areas in the town, the Cloughleigh Road is now almost unrecognisable since the introduction of pay-and-display parking.

With free parking in the area since the 1970s, the stretch of road was known for being regularly thronged with cars.  However, the new parking charges, introduced among a raft of bylaws by Ennis Town Council, have changed all that.

Teachers at the local school and residents who had regularly parked up on the road before the new measures, appear to have shunned the charges, instead choosing to park elsewhere.

According to Ennis’ town manager Ger Dollard, the parking charges were introduced for safety reasons rather than as a means of gaining revenue and said the new system will take some time to settle.

“The parking controls introduced were not introduced for financial reasons but on a direct request (petition) from residents of the area.

“Following an assessment by Ennis Town Council, it was considered that, given the issues being experienced, particularly the proximity of the school and resultant need for a high level of safety, that the extension of parking controls to this area was appropriate.

“The system is only recently introduced and will take some time to settle down.

“However, the level of vacancy occurring demonstrates that the controls are having the desired effect and ensures that parking is available for residents and others who need short-term parking as well as contributing to a much safer overall environment.

“The lack of revenue from the spaces is not an issue for the council as this was not the purpose of the proposals. I should add that the council has introduced a €100 permit for 2013 in Cloughleigh car park, which is available to all and provides excellent value for money for all-day parking.”

During the public consultation process prior to the introduction of the bylaws, submissions were received from teachers at Scoil Chríost Rí and local residents opposed to the plans.