No funding currently available for Ennis proposed footbridge under Active Travel fund
A footbridge across the River Fergus from New Road to Francis Street has been promised under the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
Ennis Municipal District have said they will make a request to the National Transport Authority to consider the proposed footbridge across the River Fergus from New Road to Francis Street for future funding.
Delivery of the project has been promised under the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029, however there is currently no funding allocated for it under the NTA Active Travel fund.
Helen Quinn, senior planner with Ennis MD, has reaffirmed that the project " remains an objective of Clare County Council".
Ms Quinn's remarks were made in response to a motion brought before the MD earlier this month by councillor Paul Murphy.
Cllr Murphy's motion called for an update on the proposed development, in light of "the anticipated opening of the new County Library which is adjacent to Glór on Francis Street, and the need for accessible public car parking in our town centre".
"The delivery of this critical piece of infrastructure will help the town meet its “10 minute town” objectives and will add to the suite of measures being developed to encourage greater usage of active travel and public transportation to move within the town centre," Ms Quinn continued in her reply.
Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan also responded to Cllr Murphy's motion, saying he had been "advised by my colleagues in Road Design that there is currently no funding available to proceed with this project under the Active Travel programme".
"The RDO will make a request to the NTA Active Travel to consider this project for future funding while at the same time, Ennis MD will consider what alternative sources of funding may be available to us for such works," Mr Lenihan continued.
He finished by promising members of the Ennis MD he would provide an update "when further information is to hand".