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St Patrick to bring free parking and pedestrianisation to the town

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PEDESTRIANISATION is set to return to Ennis for St Patrick’s Day and it has been confirmed there will be free parking in the town on the day.

However, officials of Ennis Town Council have warned that just because parking is free, traffic wardens will still be on patrol to take action against parking offences.
At Monday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, town clerk Leonard Cleary stated the public consultation process regarding the closure of roads for St Patrick’s Day is now complete. A number of submissions were received and considered by the local authority.
The parade, which will take place on Saturday, March 17 from 11am to 1pm, will be followed by a pilot period of pedestrianisation in O’Connell Square and O’Connell Street.
“This will give an opportunity for customers of the town to experience the benefits of pedestrianisation and to provide feedback to businesses and the local authority,” said Mr Cleary.
He added that it is hoped, “parking initiatives linked with a pedestrianisation experience after the parade will generate activity and business in the centre of the town. Saturday is a main trading day and a market day”.
Mr Cleary said a signage plan will be in place and street entertainment has been arranged for O’Connell Street after the parade. This will include traditional Irish music busking in the afternoon, which has been organised at a number of locations by the Arts Office. The local business community have also arranged for other street entertainment.
“The overall objective is to generate a festive atmosphere for the St Patrick’s and Mother’s Day Bank Holiday weekend and to generate business activity in the town centre linked with a cultural celebration,” concluded Mr Cleary.
Councillor Frankie Neylon raised concerns about whether there would be parking charges on the day saying, “I wouldn’t like to see the mothers going home with a parking ticket to their husbands”.
Mr Cleary confirmed that because St Patrick’s Day is a public holiday, there will be no charge for parking. Town manager Ger Dollard added, “There will still be traffic wardens on duty to monitor for parking offences such as parking on double yellow lines and in disabled parking spaces”.
Councillor Tommy Brennan urged the business community to incentivise people to stay and shop in the town. Councillor Johnny Flynn described the pedestrianisation of O’Connell Square and O’Connell Street as a “fantastic initiative, it shows that the idea of pedestrianising Abbey Street is difficult”.
Mayor of Ennis Councillor Michael Guilfoyle urged members of the public to get involved with the festivities. “I want to request everyone to get involved and make this a day of celebration. It’s a family day and hopefully people will stay around the town with the street entertainment that is being provided. We need every effort to bring people into town and it’s up to the business people to keep them there.”

 

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