This article is from page 16 of the 2011-03-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
COUNCILLORS in Ennis have delayed making a decision on new casual trading byelaws after opposition emerged to a proposal to tow away cars parked in trading bays in the market area of the town.
Under the draft byelaws, it had been proposed to introduce a tow away system for the removal of vehicles in trading bays on casual trading days.
However when the matter was raised at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council, councillors warned that motorists would be unfairly penalised if the system was introduced.
Describing it as a “very extreme proposal”, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the system to tow away cars could discourage people from coming to Ennis.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the council would be taking a “retrograde step” if it started to tow away cars, particularly in cases where pub-goers are choosing to leave their cars in the town centre overnight.
Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said he had “serious concerns” over the proposal and added that clear and visible signage would be essential if the amendment to the byelaws was enacted.
Mayor of Ennis Cllr Brennan (Ind) said that he was against towing with Cllr Flynn urging the council not to take a “sledgehammer approach” to enforcing byelaws.
Town clerk Eddie Power defended the proposal saying that the system would be used “sparingly”.
He said towing would be necessary to ensure that trading bays are available to traders on trading days, particularly when traders pay an annual license fee.
“Traders need reassurance that they can trade on the day and that bays will be available to them,” he added.
Mr Power, who also confirmed that towing would be carried out by a private company, said that if the council was serious about redevel- oping the market then a “regime had to be put in place that allows trading to take place”.
Town Manager Ger Dollard said that he understood concerns about the proposal but that cars would only be towed away as a “last resort”.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) supported the towing policy, saying it was necessary to effectively ensure trading in the market.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) strongly criticised the proposal, saying it sent out all the wrong signals about Ennis.
Councillors agreed to defer the matter until next month’s meeting.
Councillors also rejected a proposal to restrict the sale of Christ- mas trees to the Island car park in Cloughleigh.
The new byelaws provide for a new system of payment of the annual license fee and the change in orientation of the market’s 53 stalls. A special event license and fee will also be introduced.
Among the other main amendments proposed for the draft byelaws are setting trading hours from 7am to 7pm, setting the maximum height of stalls to 2.4 metres, prohibiting the sale of alcohol, the removal of three casual trading bays in Summerhill and the restriction of trading at market place car park (bays 43 to 53 inclusive) to 2pm on Saturdays.