Further to a story we brought you on May 21st in relation to the pedestrianization of Enniscorthy’s Market Square (https://wexfordtoday.com/2020/05/21/opposition-growing-to-enniscorthy-pedestrian-plan/), it appears as though the plan has been amended.

It is now being proposed that the Market Square be closed during the evening or night time, to allow for pubs and restaurants to use the areas outside their premises for customers to use. This is deemed to be a necessary measure in order to assist businesses with addressing social distancing requirements.

This leads to the question as to whether the Market Square is the only suitable location or whether other locations within the town might also benefit from this initiative.

At the time of writing, within the area of the proposed pedestrianization there are two pubs and 4 restaurants. As part of the proposed plan, Castle Street, Weafer Street and Market square will be the streets closed to traffic. This represents 370 metres of roads in Enniscorthy Town Centre unavailable to motorists for certain hours in the evening time.

An alternative or additional location in Enniscorthy Town for a pedestrian plan would be in the Templeshannon area. Between Toss Kavanagh’s pub and the old cinema, there are 3 pubs, 2 restaurants and Treacy’s Hotel. Anyone familiar with driving through this area late on a Saturday evening will have seen first hand evidence of the benefits of pedestrianizing this area. It is usually the centre of the late night social scene in Enniscorthy. Closing this area to traffic would involve the closure of just 120 metres of road. Even from a health and safety point of view, in normal circumstances, having this road closed to traffic on weekend nights would make sense.

Hopefully, in their deliberations the district council may see the merits of this idea.

Meanwhile Enniscorthy based Fianna Fáil TD, James Browne has called for a common sense approach to be taken to restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating.

Deputy Browne made the call as it was reported that Gardaí elsewhere in the country have instructed a number of businesses and coffee shops to remove outdoor tables and seats as they are not allowed under the current Covid-19 restrictions.

He explained:

“I am not aware as yet of any Gardaí instructing Wexford businesses to remove outdoor seating and I think the Minister needs to move to provide clarity on the situation.

Cafes and restaurants have all had to change the way they operate with many of them now offering a takeaway service in an effort just to keep something coming in. In keeping with social distancing guidelines some have put a small number of tables and chairs outside to accommodate customers. They are now being told to remove them as they are breaking the restrictions.“

“I’ve seen reports in Co. Kilkenny that a Superintendent said ‘the sale of food and beverages, for take-away only, qualifies as an essential activity under the current restrictions. The presence of outdoor tables and seating contravenes the take-away element and renders the outlet no longer essential’”.

“I cannot fathom how on the one hand we are encouraging businesses to prepare to reopen with social distancing and to get their staff back on the books while on the other hand ordering them to remove outdoor tables and seats. So long as a café or restaurant is not obstructing a path, and sufficient space is left for people with disabilities and informed, I can’t see what the problem is.“

“Many of these restaurants and cafes are contemplating whether it will be worth their while even opening again. They are re-employing staff and the wheels of local economies are starting to move again, they shouldn’t be meeting roadblocks.”