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Opposition to large-scale supermarket


Opposition to the proposed development of a 70,000ft2 foodstore at the junction of Tobarteascain and the Clare Road in Ennis is gathering momentum.
The investment of over €34 ­million will create 300 construction jobs and between 180 and 200 permanent sustainable jobs at a time when unemployment is at its worst in Clare since the 1980s, according to Seamus Lynch, managing director of Michael Lynch Limited.
“Contrary to claims that we plan to build a shopping centre, the planning application we made is for a foodstore and  not a shopping centre,” he said. “Specifically, the site will include a foodstore, a purpose-built community building to house a much-needed new library that will be handed over to Ennis Town Council free-of-charge  and a new office building for Michael Lynch Limited. 
“Our planning application has clearly stated that Tesco will continue to operate at the Ennis Shopping Centre, it will not be closing.”
Ennis Chamber and Ennis Development Forum said they want to bring clarity to the debate around two separate important issues; the first involves the planning application for the supermarket and the second involves a number of last-minute town plan rezoning modifications being proposed by local councillors, one of which includes the same site referenced in the Michael Lynch planning application.
Their joint statement notes the supermarket development proposal is a matter for Ennis Town Council as the statutory planning authority, as a planning application is being considered on its merits. 
Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council managers’ reports on town plan rezoning modifications being proposed by local councillors have been prepared and forwarded to the local councillors, the groups note.
“Both [managers] have recommended that the last-minute rezoning changes for the Clare Road site to enable the future development of a large district centre not be adopted as they are inappropriate. 
“This recommendation by the planning authorities upholds the position within the Ennis Chamber and Ennis Development Forum submissions to statutory public consultation process,” the groups state.
Individual traders’ groups have also expressed their opposition to the development, registering concern that Ennis would succumb to the ‘doughnut effect’ and have its business drained from the traditional shopping areas.
Barry O’Driscoll, chairman of the stock management company at Quin Road Business Park, said owners/managers of several businesses there were shocked and dismayed at the proposal for such a large-scale shopping development at the Tobarteascain/Clare Road junction.
“This scale of development would certainly lead to a doughnut effect for Ennis town centre. It would be catastrophic for existing businesses within the town centre area,” said Mr O’Driscoll.
“There are a lot of business casualties out there already,” Mr O’Driscoll noted in reference to closed premises on the Quin Road and around the town.
“Our group on the Quin Road is very much pro-business and pro-Ennis on this issue. We simply cannot have our town faced with the doughnut scenario.
“This development shouldn’t go ahead.”
Clare Labour Constituency Executive has endorsed Councillor Paul O’Shea’s opposition to the proposed development on the outskirts of Ennis. Clare Labour has called on other Ennis town councillors to support Councillor O’Shea in the vote planned for next Monday’s meeting.
Constituency chairwoman Jo Walsh and PRO for the county, Seamus Ryan, made the point that the propaganda that Tesco would be increasing the number of jobs in the county town belied the fact that the overall number of jobs would drop as economic pressure of an even larger multiple store in the town would force small ­business to cut jobs just to survive.

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