Templeshannon plan ‘unworkable’
CONCERNED PARTIES TO PRESENT ALTERNATIVE PLAN TO ONE-WAY SYSTEM
BUSINESSPEOPLE and residents of the Templeshannon area are to join forces in opposition to Wexford County Council’s plans to make the area one-way.
The plans were proposed under the Templeshannon Regeneration Programme and would mean that traffic could only move down Templeshannon towards the quay, with traffic coming from the West side of town over the old bridge being diverted up around Springvalley and back down the Shannon.
An alternative plan is already said to have the complete backing of Enniscorthy Chamber, with development officer Jimmy Gahan saying: ‘ The feeling is that in it’s present form, the plan for Templeshannon is unworkable.’
AN Emergency meeting regarding the controversial one-way system coming down the tracks as part of the Templeshannon Regeneration plans, is to be held in Treacy’s Hotel tonight (Tuesday). The initial plans for the regeneration of the area included a widening of footpaths and the creation of an improved pedestrian environment, something which necessitated Templeshannon being made one-way.
It was decided that the best way of doing this was to have traffic coming down from Templeshannon onto the quay and with traffic coming off the Old Bridge no longer able to access Templeshannon directly. Instead, anyone wishing to access this side of town would have to head along the quay, up Springvalley and back down the Shannon.
A concerned group of residents, headed up by Eamonn Doyle, are stating that the plan for the one-way system, approved by the council, is ‘completely infeasible’ and will result in traffic chaos at that side of town. In an open letter that was circulated ahead of tonight’s meeting, Eamonn pointed out that the planned one-way system would result in traffic looking to gain access to Templeshannon from the west side of Enniscorthy would have to drive an extra mile and join traffic from four schools - St Senan’s, Coláiste Bríde, the Gaelscoil and the new St Patrick’s Special School - as well as St Senan’s Church and the local supermarket.
‘ There seems to be a fair bit of opposition to the proposed one way system,’ Eamonn said. ‘I got involved after I went to the public display in the library and I met with a few local business people and started the conversation. A few of these business people spent a bit of money to come up with an alternative plan, which we feel would represent a much better solution.’
While full details will be revealed at tonight’s meeting, the plan basically entails creating a slip road at the end of the old bridge, which would pass through where the Waterfront car park is currently and join up with the Templeshannon road via a roundabout.
‘ The council have already voted in favour of the plan in front of them, but all we’re asking for is the opportunity to present an alternative,’ Eamonn said. ‘I think some of the councillors would be in favour of it and I think the majority of residents in the area are hugely in favour of the alternative.’
Tonight’s meeting will get underway at 8 p.m. during which details of the counter-proposal will be given, along with a presentation from town planner Ian Doyle on the impact the original proposal would have on the area if implemented.