Absence of loading bays for businesses in Ennis town centre has been “exasperated” due to the traffic management system in place, a county councillor has claimed.
Provision of “at least two loading bays in each retail street” and public car park in Ennis was sought by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) “in order to support” businesses and jobs in the town centre and enable deliveries from suppliers.
Senior executive engineer, Eamon O’Dea said the proposal should be considered when the parking bye laws are under review. He noted, “there are loading bays provided in a number of streets or adjacent streets. Some of the loading bays (Abbey Street) have time constraints that were previously requested by the business community to facilitate customers later in the day”.
Consultation with the business community will have to occur regarding the type, frequency and timing of deliveries. “A number of the collection service operators for businesses in Ennis do not use vehicles that comply with requirements for loading bays and other forms of short-term parking needs to be considered for this activity,” he stated.
Local businesses are “finding it very difficult to get supplies in”, Cllr Flynn highlighted. He said thirteen large gas cylinders are delivered per week in O’Connell St with suppliers “finding it very difficult to get into town to keep supplies in the local shops”. He calculated that 81 percent of shops and businesses in O’Connell St don’t have rear access or large storage areas.
Flynn acknowledged that the local authority were providing “adequate loading bays in the car parks” but maintained there was “a shortfall”. Some suppliers to Dunnes Stores are forced to park at the O’Connell Monument and use trolleys to bring their goods down the street, he observed. “We’re closing down the street for a number of hours each day which is making it difficult for them. It is an issue that has been exasperated since the reopening and partial closing during the day”.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) revealed that he recently did some work as a delivery driver “a few days a week”. He recalled, “my own experience driving a van was it was very hard to access a loading bay”. Loading bays were being “abused” by motorists and builders, the Clarecastle man affirmed. “The abuse of them is causing a lot of parking congestion problems in the town. A van driver has to park on double yellow lines which is when you get your mayhem on the town. Traffic team have a hard job, I saw them issue tickets but it was mayhem during the summer”.
Director of Service, Carmel Kirby confirmed that a parking review is commencing in November, “we will prioritise Ennis,” she commented. In response to queries from Cllr Flynn on out of order parking metres, Ms Kirby said the review will incorporate this and look at vacant spaces, parking enforcement and the fees that should be applied. An appointment is likely to be made to conduct this review, she hinted.
