Monday 22 August 2011

Clare protest over landmark

Letter to the Editor:

Sir, – I noted with some dismay your article “Clare Protest over funding to save buildings” (Home News, August 12th). The issue of Blake’s Corner has been the subject of much debate for many years as it forms one of the defining landmarks of the town of Ennistymon, famous for its variety of classic Irish shopfronts. The removal of Blake’s Corner would, in itself serve little purpose as a traffic improvement, as the adjoining historic bridge remains very narrow.

The only realistic alternative is to have a bypass from the south side of the town linking up with the main road to Lahinch and on to the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most successful tourist attractions of the west coast (hugely to the credit of Clare County Council).

The proposal to build a bypass has been on the county plan for over half a century. I note from other reports that funds have been found to construct some the major road plans; surely county, regional and national organisations could collaborate to fund the enhancement of the approach to the Cliffs of Moher and at the same time enable the heritage of an important town like Ennistymon to be preserved. The unique character of such towns is what attracts urgently-needed tourist income, its destruction would therefore be tragedy for both heritage and tourism.

I would urge the NRA to review the bypass option in the context of it acting as a gateway to the development of major tourist attractions along the west coast. – Yours, etc,

Dr ROBERT D NOLAN,

Annis Road,

Alderley Edge,

Cheshire, England.

Irish Times

www.buckplanning.ie

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