The group campaigning against plans to build on the riverside car parks and civic amenity spaces in Ennis is urging voters in the Ennis Municipal Local Election Area to let their voice be heard at the ballot box.
Save Ennis Town, a community based group representing towns people, traders, councillors and candidates opposed to aspects of the Ennis 2040 plans, was set up over a year ago following a packed meeting at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. At that gathering, deep concerns were voiced over the proposals to build on the Abbey and Parnell Street Car Parks which would deprive the town of much needed parking and amenity spaces.
Now, following a hugely successful rally at O’Connell Square two weeks ago, chairman of Save Ennis Town, Gearóid Mannion, is asking those concerned about the proposed buildings to get out and vote on June 7th.
“We had a great turnout at our rally a couple of weeks ago. Now we see that, of the 13 candidates running in the Ennis Municipal area, only 3 are in favour of these ill-conceived proposals going ahead. That, in itself, tells us the strength of feeling against those aspects of the Ennis 2040 plans. Save Ennis Town are urging the thousands who oppose the destruction of the heart of our town to make their vote count by supporting only those candidates who are opposed to these controversial buildings going ahead.”
But Mr Mannion also believes that the fundamentals of local democracy are being ignored in a bid to push the Ennis 2040 plans through.
“There is huge anger and frustration out there, not just among the people of the town but also the surrounding areas who depend on Ennis for shopping and services.
There has been a serious lack of any meaningful consultation with the public over these projects, despite widespread opposition indicated by the petition presented to the Council last October with over 3,700 signatures.
The feeling is that the public are not being listened to on this issue and that democracy is not being served. An example of this is the lack of transparency around some aspects of the project. When Michael McNamara TD told our rally at The Square that the car parks would be handed over to a private company, Ennis 2040 DAC, and be lost to public ownership, the reaction of those present was shock and disbelief. This is madness and it has to be stopped.
We have a right to expect that those we elect will protect local democracy while representing our views and concerns. That is why, in the upcoming local elections, it is so important that the voice of the people be heard.”
