Business joins campaign to enlarge city

LIMERICK business leaders have joined in the battle to have the city boundary extended.

Despite claims that the development of Limerick as a regional commercial centre is being strangled due to its restricted area, politicians in Co Limerick and Co Clare have vowed to fight any expansion of the city into their respective administrative areas.

The present city boundary has not been altered for more than 50 years.

Now the three main business organisations in the greater Limerick area, Limerick Chamber of Commerce, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation Mid-West and the Limerick City Business Association, have joined forces, calling on Environment Minister Dick Roche to refer the matter to an independent boundary commission. They insist that the issue has become too politically sensitive to remain in the political arena and requires the objective consideration of an independent commission.

Limerick Chamber President Robert Graydon said: “It is a fact that strong cities make strong regions. In the interest of attracting Foreign Direct Investment and knowledge-driven enterprise to the city and the region, Limerick City must be in a position to demonstrate that the city and its suburbs is a well-managed coherent entity with visionary long-term plans to provide the urban scale and sophisticated services considered essential by investors.”

Mr Graydon said the chamber is concerned that any appearance of unhealthy tensions and divisions will affect the Mid-West’s competitiveness and result in investors bypassing the entire region.