Concern Over New Library Headquarters

Clare Champion, Friday, 15th December 2006

Concern has been expressed about the proposed development of a new headquarters for the Clare Library service on a section of one of the last green areas in the centre of Ennis.

Green Party Deputy Mayor, Councillor Brian Meaney and Councillor Gerry Flynn have voiced reservations about plans by the two main local authorities to site a new county library on 0.3 acres of the Post Office Field, which comprises of five acres in total and is the ownership of the Town Council.

Initial discussions with the Town Council's planner and County Council architect indicate that a suitable building would enhance the streetscape at Bank Place, Ennis, while preserving the amenity of the adjoining site.

This proposal was considered and agreed at the November meeting of Ennis Town Council and considered by the Ennis Electoral Area meeting, which agreed in principle to Ennis Town Council taking a lead role in the provision of the proposed library from a planning to construction stage.

However, Councillor Meaney asked the council to explain what was prompting the council's plan to move away from the existing de Valera library at Harmony Row, Ennis. He told the meeting that he had received a lot of representations from people who were extremely concerned that work would take place around the county library where there are two listed buildings. Stressing that the move to the Post Office Field was also causing concern, he stressed that the council needed to move very carefully before any final decision was taken.

Councillor Flynn admitted that he had a huge problem with any plan that would reduce the Post Office Field, which was a "fabulous location" for Ennis people and was left under water on regular occasions during the year.

Councillor Christy Curtin stressed that any development should not be undertaken by the council at the expense of the library service throughout the county, which had been developed and expanded thanks to a partnership arrangement with local communities.

Ennis Town Manager, Tom Coughlan, told councillors that initial responses to the consultation with An Comhairle Leabharlanna and the Department of the Environment have been positive. Mr. Coughlan pointed out that re-development on the site of the existing de Valera library was considered very problematic, having regard to the various disruption to services during the construction phase.

He explained that the existing library couldn't cater for the level and diverse use of the building and that the council wanted to develop a "flagship" facility, which would set the bar for the further development of its library service throughout the county.

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