This article is from page 22 of the 2011-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 22 JPG
ENNIS Town Council is to engage with local and national coach tour operators to determine the need for additional bus parking locations in Ennis. This follows concerns from local businesses and councillors that Ennis is missing out on potential tourist business because of a lack of adequate bus spaces and facilities in the town centre.
Town Engineer Eamon O’Dea said last week that the council are engaging with local tourism operators and the Coach and Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) “to see what coach parking facilities are required before further expenditure is incurred by the council”.
Mr O’Dea explained, “This is necessary to determine whether additional set-down or parking locations (or both) are required. Bus parking is generally provided in the car parks of the hotels where the coach tourist is staying.
Mr O’Dea was responding to a motion submitted by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) to the September meeting of Ennis Town Council. Cllr Flynn called for the council to provide (1) drop-off points in town locations; (2) coach parking at Temple Gate carpark previously used for coaches; (3) facilities for coach drivers to maintain, clean up; (4) rest facilities for drivers. He also called on the council to work with other organisations on incentive schemes to increase coachbased tourism.
In his report, Mr O’Dea stated, “Ennis has two bus parking locations at Friars walk car park to the rear of the Museum and three bus parking locations at Glór. There was eight bus parking locations in the Friars Walk car park adjacent to the Dunnes Stores multi storey car park and they were converted into long stay car parking due to issues with caravans in the area. The council intend to provide additional bus parking location to the rear of the Museum in the Friars Walk carpark”.
Mr O’Dea continued, “I understand that the bus drivers clean buses at the end of each day and they generally have the required equipment with them on the buses. There is a reciprocal arrangement between coach companies in the provision of facilities if required”.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said space for cleaning buses is a “major requirement” for coach operators. Cllr Flynn said Ennis needs to make more of its town centre. He said O’Connell Street has been listed in the top 60 of the world’s greatest places by the Project for Public Spaces (PPS).