Traders warn against ‘risky’ plan for square

TRADERS in Dungarvan’s 200-year-old Grattan Square are warning that some of the proposals from consultants for a €3 million revamp of the town’s most historic central landmark represents a high-risk strategy that will impact negatively on business and will put many of the 300 jobs involved in jeopardy.

A five-member delegation of Grattan Square traders attended a meeting of the town council this week, and warned against the major reduction of car parking spaces from 110 to 29 proposed by the consultants.

Pat Whyte told the meeting that Grattan Square has always been consumer-friendly. There is an existing half-hour free parking concession which has been hugely beneficial to business. While the traders accept that the square is in need of a revamp, they are warning against what they consider to be the “high-risk strategy”.