Aontas na Pairce, a planning pressure group in Ennis, congratulated the Chamber of Commerce by email on becoming the country's Information Age Town. The group's chairman, Mr Donall O Bearra, said Ennis could develop a real local democracy, by using the new technology to hold referendums on contentious issues. Aontas na Pairce has been campaigning for a local referendum on the future of the Post Office Field, which is describes as "the last unspoilt green area in the centre of Ennis". It has gathered 2,600 signatures supporting its call and the support of local anglers and residents, according to Mr O Bearra.
The field was bought recently by Mr Seamus Lynch, son of a local hotelier, who plans to build a hotel and car-park on the site.
The group says there is increasing concern about recent development in the town, "and the constant erosion of green areas has raised many questions and has led to a breakdown in confidence in the planning system in Clare.
"The apparent acceptability of changes to the County Development Plan is worrying from the point of view of setting precedents and eroding what was previously seen as planning policy. A strong feeling of disillusionment and disenchantment with the system of objections to planning permission exists.
"A perception abounds that the town development means simply more building, houses and apartments at the expense and exclusion of social and environmental balance," it said.