This article is from page 21 of the 2011-09-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
OFFICIALS at Ennis Town Council have admitted frustration with the National Roads Authority’s (NRA) policy towards motorway signage for Ennis.
The issue was raised at the September meeting of Ennis Town Council, where members discussed a motion put forward by Councillor Brian Meaney (GP).
Cllr Meaney urged the Council to consult with the NRA, pointing out that there are no signposts for Ennis on numerous sections of the motorway network in the mid-west.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Meaney said a stronger case should be made to ensure Ennis is “identified as a major junction in the midwest”.
In his response to Cllr Meaney’s motion, Senior Engineer Tom Tiernan said the NRA does not regard Ennis as termination point.
He explained, “The main reason Ennis fares poorly on the national road signage relates to NRA standard policy, which dictates that the number of destinations to appear on signage should be minimised and that priority is given to destinations at termination points of relevant routes. Unfortuneatley Ennis loses out in a number of situations where one would expect it should feature due to the fact that it is not a termination location on the N/M18. I have received this explanation from the NRA on a number of occasions when I have raised this issue previously.”
Mr Tiernan continued, “Ennis isn’t indicated on signage along the approaches to the Tulla Road interchange because a decision was taken in advance of opening the Ennis bypass that it would not be appropriate to encourage Ennis bound traffic to take the Tulla Road route into town for a number of reasons including: concerns regarding traffic capacity of the route; the risk associated with encouraging increased quantities of traffic (particularly large vehicles) to enter Ennis under the Corrovorrin railway bridge whose clearance above road level is less than desirable; the extent of residential development along the route.”
Senior Executive Engineer Eamon O’Dea admitted that the issue of ter mination points had been “extremely frustrating” for the Council.
“We’re not happy about it and we will talk to them about it,” he added.
Councillors were critical of the NRA’s policy towards Ennis. Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said it was not “satisfactory” that on main motorways “you find every other sign but no sign for Ennis”.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the NRA does not seem to realise that there is a community beyond the Ennis bypass. He claimed Ennis had been “treated appallingly” in comparison to other large towns like Athlone.