A former Mayor of Ennis insists the High Court’s decision to allow Supermac’s to press ahead with contentious plans for a motorway plaza on the outskirts of the town must be welcomed.
A protracted 10-year planning process came to an end on Friday after a judicial review stalling the development was quashed.
When Pat McDonagh first lodged his planning application for a motorway plaza on the outskirts of Ennis in December 2014, it’s unlikely he could have predicted the swings and roundabouts to come.
An Bord Pleanála would later refuse permission and after this two more applications were withdrawn in 2016 and 2018, before the board finally gave the project the green light in 2022.
This decision was soon challenged in the High Court by Kilfenora Engineer Michael Duffy, who raised concerns over the impact it would have on special areas of conservation, however the case was rejected on Friday.
In the intervening years, multiple objections were lodged to the development by local businesses who feared the large development would take traffic and footfall away from the town centre and reduce spending.
Former Mayor of Ennis Clarecastle Fine Gael Councillor Paul Murphy insists, now a decision has been reached, local traders must aim to harness the opportunities of the plaza and market their unique offering to the new passing traffic.
The motorway plaza is proposed for a 17 hectare site just off junction 12 on the M18 near Kilbreckan between Doora and Clarecastle.
The facility’s expected to cost up to €15m and will employ 120 staff when built and will create 100 jobs during construction.
During the planning, appeals and legal process, the Managing Director of Supermac’s claims to have spent over €1.5m on getting the plaza project over the line.
Pat McDonagh says while he’s looking forward to the new venture, he believes Ireland’s planning system needs serious reform.
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