Outgoing Councillor Johnny Flynn has announced his resignation from the Fine Gael party.
The Ennis Councillor, who previously announced he would not contest the local elections next week, has attributed the decision to what he’s described as his party colleagues support for “destructive Council and Ennis 2040 DAC plans for the town centre”.
In a surprise announcement this afternoon, Councillor Johnny Flynn has laid the blame at the door of the two current Ennis Municipal District Fine Gael councillors, as well as other sitting Fine Gael councillors.
He says it’s over their apparent support of the future development of Ennis Town centre, despite receiving written confirmation last October that a petition signed by 3,700 people was handed into the council opposing the Ennis 2040 plans.
Councillor Johnny Flynn, who’s represented the Ennis Local Electoral area as a Councillor since 2004, announced last February that he would not be contesting the Local Elections this year.
He now says he intends to continue to work and campaign as an independent citizen “against the controversial plans of the Council to hand over ownership or control of public lands to a private company; Ennis 2040 DAC”.
The lands he refers to are the Abbey Street civic space and car park, Parnel Street car park and the main taxi rank and the Post Office field.
In addition, Councillor Flynn is opposing the proposal to build a replacement car park on the green area of Waterpark House in Drumbiggle, saying it would remove the commemorative garden and a scarce public park located there.
He’s also criticised the decision to demolish six cottages and a modern bungalow at the Francis Street Site, saying it was not right at a time of a housing crisis.
