Canal and cars causing anxiety among Ennell Park parents

Two dangers are worrying the parents of children living at Ennell Park: that of speeding traffic, but also, the fact that the canal bank is not fenced off.

The issues were raised with council officials at the April meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad by the mayor, Cllr Ken Glynn, who had a motion on the agenda calling to have safety improved at Ennell Park by installing a traffic calming measure and by erecting fencing along the green bordering the canal.

The response from the executive stated that ramps were installed in Ennell Court in 2024, but that further works, such as ramps and fencing, could be considered as part of the 2026 estimates.

Cllr Glynn wasn’t happy to leave the matter at that, explaining that it is a relatively new estate and, therefore, there are a lot of young families among the residents.

He said while he appreciated the installation of the ramp at the entrance to Ennell Court, which had been a great help, concerns remained about traffic in Ennell Park itself: “There was even a request from some residents that we put some bollards on the road to try and slow down traffic, which obviously is not a runner. Hence why I’m raising this today,” Cllr Glynn said.

He said the fact that fencing had not been erected along the green at the canal at the time the estate was being developed meant that the district now had to “pick up the pieces”.

He added that it was his view that when, as a local authority, the district builds houses, it should also provide the proper infrastructure – “and we haven’t in this case”. He said he intended to keep raising the matter until the issues are resolved: “Do we have to wait until something happens before we act on it?” he asked.

Support came from Cllr Andrew Duncan, who said that regarding the fencing question, there were two issues – one relating to the safety aspect and the danger of young kids ending up in the canal, and the second being anti-social behaviour impinging on the Ennell Park area.

Cllr David Jones shared Cllr Glynn’s view that traffic calming measures should be put in as new estates are being developed, and Cllr Emily Wallace agreed with the plea from Cllr Glynn that funding be found, especially for the fence, which she regarded as a source of immediate danger.

Cllr Julie McCourt said she had raised the issue not long after Ennell Park was built, but the reply provided to her by the council stated that a fence would be the responsibility of Waterways Ireland. “Waterways Ireland threw it back to the council and the residents there were left in limbo for quite a long time and probably still are,” Cllr McCourt said, adding that the lack of a fence was “a huge safety issue”.

Cllr Alfie Devine pointed out that private builders developing estates are obliged under the conditions of their planning permission to undertake measures such as the installation of traffic calming. “So, I can’t understand why, or is there any reason why, if we’re doing local developments ourselves that they’re not conditioned at the start and done as part of the plan.”

Responding, director of services, Deirdre Reilly, said the district does not have a budget for that type of work for 2025. But, she continued, there would be no harm in one of the district engineers visiting Ennell Park and making an estimate of how much ramps and fencing would cost.

“We’ll see what we can do for the residents there,” she said.