Protected buildings causing traffic jams

DAILY TRAFFIC snarl-ups are doing untold damage to Ennistymon, to north Clare and are a disincentive for people to visit the area, according to a senior member of Clare County Council.

Richard Nagle (FF) joined other councillors in expressing frustration at the delay in the delivery of a consultant’s report on the issue.

At the centre of the long-running controversy is a row over the fate of two protected 19th-century buildings that are causing the gridlock in their current location.

Last year, opposition to demolition plans resulted in the council forfeiting €300,000 in funding from its roads budget in 2010.

The two protected structures on Blake’s Corner, Blake’s and Linnane’s, are immortalised in John Hinde postcards. The Save Ennistymon’s Heritage group says the buildings are at risk of vandalism.

Outside a meeting of the north Clare councillors, the heritage group’s members distributed literature calling on the council “to move the buildings complete and intact on their site to allow both for the creation of a new and improved junction and the preservation and continued use of the iconic buildings”.

It also urged the council “to take steps to protect the buildings by making them secure and allow for their redecoration . . . Save Ennistymon’s Heritage offers to contribute towards any associated costs to decorate the building.”

The group also called on the council to release the contents of a consultant’s report into options for the buildings. However, council engineer Stephen Lahiffe told the meeting that the report was not yet ready.

Mr Nagle said the traffic situation “is an absolute nightmare for every vehicle and it is extremely dangerous for pedestrians. It is extremely negative from the town’s perspective in every respect.” Bill Slattery (FG) said the issue had been going on for the past 15 years.

“If I owned the buildings, I would have a derelict order slapped on me,” he said. “They are two ugly buildings, they are falling down, slates coming off, windows broken.” Mr Slattery said tailbacks going into Ennistymon went as far back as the old hospital.