This article is from page 17 of the 2011-12-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
CONSTRUCTION work on the long awaited final section of the Ennis Inner Relief Road is expected to begin in early 2012, a meeting has heard.
Loan charges on the project have been budgeted at € 240,000 for 2012. The figure, contained in Ennis Town Council’s annual budget, is to meet costs arising on land acquisition and construction.
In a report, Town Manager Ger Dollard explained that limits placed on borrowing mean the final section of the road could not be completed in 2011.
He continued, “These difficulties were resolved and the council is now in a position to proceed to construction for this section of the road. Tenders have been invited, and, at this point it is expected that that work will commence in early 2012. The redevelopment of Madden’s Furniture premises has now been completed which facilitates the completion of this long-awaited piece of infrastructure for the town.
It is anticipated that € 175,027 will be spent on local roads general maintenance works in 2012 with a further € 660,000 on general im- provement works.
Public lighting operating costs are expected to hit € 402,000, while maintenance and management of car parks will cost € 80,000.
The budget estimated that the council will receive € 1,324,000 in income from parking fines and charges next year.
In the area of housing and building, Mr Dollard states that the council has six casual vacancies, four of which are allocated and will be ready for occupation in the coming weeks.
He continued, “The remaining two require more significant repairs and will not be available for letting until 2012. Works to vacant houses have focused on achieving standards within short timescales to ensure periods of vacancy are minimised.”
He added, “In line with Government policy the council is leasing eight houses on the private market for social housing – the full cost of which is borne by the department and negotiation are ongoing in relation to other accommodation.”
“The council’s contribution under the abovementioned schemes comes from capital receipts rather than the revenue budget.”