Long term plans for Pedestrianisation in Ennis look set to become a thing of the past following a vote on the controversial issue by local councillors.
Ennis Town Council voted to discontinue car free shopping trials last evening, following calls from Ennis Chamber of Commerce and local traders who reported losses of up to 50% of their business over the past six Saturdays.
Many business owners from O’Connell Street and Abbey Street were present for the meeting, and greeted the result with loud applause.
Newsagent Mary Kelly was one of a number of Ennis Traders who cut staff hours on Saturday during the last six weeks of pedestrianisation and expressed relief after Councillors voted by a 6-3 majority to end the car free initiative while Abbey Street trader Noel Tierney said it was a vote of common sense.
Mary Gleeson of the Old Ground Hotel expressed shock at the recent drop in trade, and said hotel patrons were getting lost in Ennis
There was loud applause from business representatives after a motion by Ennis Mayor Tommy Brennan to continue pedestrianisation trials was defeated, though Councillor Brennan says it’s unclear whether cars will return to the main streets of Ennis this Saturday due to statutory procedures and legal issues.
Councillor Brennan also expressed concern that the many positive views about car free streets coming from the public have not been considered, but whatever happens this weekend, Ennis Traders like Mary Kelly have made it clear that business comes first
