Temporary fence installed to allow reopening of laneway

A TEMPORARY fence has been erected to enable the reopening of a lane providing connectivity between Francis Street and the Clonroad in Ennis, writes Páraic McMahon

Located near Tesco Shopping Centre, the lane which acts as a handy shortcut for pedestrians had been closed for months.

At this month’s sitting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) called for the reopening of the lane. “This lane provides walking connectivity for the public between Francis Street to Clonroad and has been closed for several months,” he stated.

Acting senior executive engineer, Paddy Tiernan explained that the lane had been closed following the collapse of a section of private wall along the route. “Ennis MD have liaised with the landowner and are actively attempting to reach agreement regarding the re-build of the wall,” he said.

Tiernan added, “Following consultation with the landowner Ennis MD have agreed to remove the collapsed wall from the area and install a temporary fence so the path can be re-opened. These works will be complete by the end of the week”. of development that will include a spectator viewing area, floodlighting and female changing rooms. It will feature the first full-sized all-weather pitch in County Clare.

“This is where local politics can be very effective, I’m delighted to hear that is has reopened,” Cllr O’Callaghan commented.

“These small things while they can be very small are very big to the people in the area,” he maintained.

At the sod turning, Tadg Collins, chairman of the Clarecastle Community Amenity Company said: “Today is the culmination of a number of years’ work to de- velop a facility that has been long identified by members of our community as filling a gap in terms of facilities for young and old. It will provide a community resource that we hope will encourage more year-round physical activity and participation in a safe environment.”

Roche Ireland part-funded the project.

An email had been issued by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) seeking action on the matter in January. “It is great to see that it is going to be reopened,” he said. Presence of local authority staff carrying out the works was a welcome sight, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) observed. “It is nice to have an impact,” she told her colleague Cllr O’Callaghan.