This article is from page 20 of the 2013-09-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
RESIDENTS in the Shanaway Road area of Ennis say they are prepared to erect a human barricade if work is not stopped at an “unauthorised” Office of Public Works (OPW) site.
Contractors have been carrying out work at the site on behalf of the OPW for the past six weeks.
Materials from the site, which is near three residential areas, are being used for the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme on the River Fergus.
Residents have written to Clare County Council urging them to shut down the development.
They have cited the safety risks to children of the work and the high volume of lorries travelling to and from the site on a daily basis.
In a letter Woodstock Drive resident, Conor Smith says, “There are little or no safety procedures in place and the site is surrounded by private housing with young children everywhere. It is possible for anyone to enter the grounds freely and without hindrance nor restriction, whether during the day during the work, evenings or over any weekend. With little or no safeguards, it can only be a matter of time before a child is seriously injured or much worse, which someone will have to answer for.”
In a statement yesterday, Clare County Council said its Planning Depart- ment has been made aware of issues in relation to works at Shanaway Road and has served a Warning notice under the Planning and Development Acts.
“Compliance with the Warning Notice is currently being followed up by the Planning Department,” added a spokesperson.
A spokesperson for the OPW stated it had been made aware that the “extraction and deposition of material from the site in question in connection with the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme was in breach of planning legislation”.
The OPW says it had not been notified about the issue by Clare County Council but that it understands that a cessation notice will issue imminently.
The spokesperson explained, “The OPW has asked the contractor for the flood relief scheme to clarify the position immediately. In the interim, the contractor has been requested to cease the removal and deposition of material in connection with the scheme.”
Residents of Woodstock View, Woodstock Hill and Woodstock Drive met with OPW representatives over the weekend.
Woodstock View resident Robert McCarthy said locals are prepared to block the entrance as a “last resort” if work does not cease this week.
“To have a major development like this between three residential estates, where you have around 200 children, is crazy. It wouldn’t be allowed to happen anywhere in the world,” he added.