Call for rate cuts to stem town’s demise

THE head of Mullingar Chamber of Commerce has proposed a series of emergency recommendations aimed at stemming the effect of the recession on the town – which has resulted in nearly 50 shop closures and 100 job losses since the start of this year.

Chamber president Paul O’Brennan has called for a 50% reduction in commercial and water rates in order to assist business owners in the town and for no new commercial rates to be charged to new business start-ups for at least one year.

Out of a total of 357 retail outlets in Mullingar’s town centre, 50 are either closed down or vacant and ready to lease, according to a new survey by the Chamber. In percentage terms, that figure equates to 86% of outlets in the town remaining open and 14% being unoccupied. Due to these closures, the Chamber has estimated that 100 people have lost their jobs since January.