Clare Fm - Podcasts

A protest taking place in Ennis this weekend will push for greater community consultation on a development which organisers of the demonstration have deemed "insane". A group of retailers, local representatives and community activists are highlighting their opposition to the proposed Abbey Street development as part of the Ennis 2040 Spatial and Economic Strategy. The 'Save Ennis Town' Group, which was formed last May, will be holding the demonstration on Saturday afternoon from 2 o'clock in the Square in Ennis. A key bugbear of the group is the proposed construction of multi-storey mixed-use development on the Abbey Street Car Park, which it's claimed will lead to a loss of a vital civic space, as well as much-needed car parking spaces. According to Ennis 2040 DAC, the development will consist of "a large retail space at ground and first floor levels together with office accommodation on the upper floors" in a building which will "respect and integrate with the existing historical development of Ennis".