Park on stilts at your ‘peril’

“Tread there at our peril”. That is the stark warning of one Ennis councillor, who has voiced his strong opposition to a call for the development of a car park on the Post Office Field.

 

At the recent budget meeting of Ennis Town Council, Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn suggested that the site be developed to provide additional parking spaces for the town.

According to Councillor Flynn development levies could be used to construct the facility. He believes the additional spaces could allow for a reduction in the price of parking. He proposed a ‘modular deck’ car park – parking on a stilt-like structure – could be developed that would be cost effective and sympathetic to its surroundings.

“The Post Office Field was purchased for close to €1 million and it is an asset of the town council,” he said.
However, Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney has insisted that a car park at the Post Office Field is a no-go.

“I do not want to see any proposal in any shape, matter or form that would in any way allow for car parking at the Post Office Field. There was a hard fought battle that was community led and that the town council took on for the purchasing of that field for the community. There is a very strong element in the town that would resist this, and we tread there at our peril,” he said.

Councillor Meaney acknowledged that calls have been made for a reduction in parking charges, adding, “perhaps some hard decisions need to be made”.

However, he urged that no car parking should be constructed at the Post Office Field, adding that studies have shown that any flood relief effect for the town from the site is “minimal”. “It doesn’t matter if it’s on stilts or not, the water displacement is zilch,” he commented.

Councillor Meaney added, “No councillor here has a mandate to propose a car park for this field.”

Town manager, Ger Dollard told councillors there are currently no proposals before the local authority for the development of the Post Office Field.

“There were some preliminary drawings done a few years back but, at the moment, we are nowhere near going anywhere. Before anything is done there would have to be consultation,” he commented.

Back in November 2006, the town council supported the development of a library to be built on a 0.3 acre site at the edge of the Post Office Field. However, this development never went ahead due to a lack of funding. In September of 2010 the local authority agreed to assess the feasibility of the site for car parking.