This article is from page 8 of the 2012-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE Ennis 2020 project sets out to consult with members of the public to chart a path for Ennis beyond recession. The community visioning exercise is the product of a joint initiative between Ennis Town Council and the University of Limerick.
The UL Practicum is working with the Ennis hub plan committee to gather ideas from the citizens of Ennis. So far UL students of the MA in Technical Communication and E-Learning and students from the Politics and Public Administration Department assisted during the community visioning exercises that took place in Ennis last April and May.
The main objective of the project is to support the development of a participatory plan for Ennis as a hub town in line with the National Spatial Strategy.
The findings can now be viewed online or in a specially designed electronic newsletter. An e-comic has also been produced for school children.
Three UL students – Susan Rice, Sherona O’Donnell and Avril Seery – played a central role in collecting, compiling and presenting the report’s findings.
School children and teenagers are being encouraged to interact with ‘Ennis 2020 People, Place, Potential, phase one of which was launched last November.
The first report on Ennis 2020 – People, Place, Potential, presents perspectives on what local people think Ennis will look and feel like in 2020; the strengths and assets on which it can build; how the image of Ennis might be improved and how Ennis might be developed further as an inclusive town.
In a section focusing on how improved infrastructure can enhance Ennis, the report found, “The related theme of pedestrianisation was undoubtedly one of the most prominent issues to be raised with all of those mentioned it advocating pedestrianisation of some sort or other, ranging from gradual or partial pedestrianisation to an all out approach taking in al of the town centre.” Parking also emerged as a key concern for people in Ennis.