Council ‘ignoring inner city business’

LIMERICK Chamber of Commerce yesterday accused the city council of turning a blind eye to a big decline in city centre business.

A recent survey conducted by the chamber found that over the past 12 months up to 54 retail outlets in the city centre have shut down.

Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Maria Kelly said they have found a “complete disengagement” with the authorities in City Hall when it comes to discussing the city.

Ms Kelly said: “I have a dent in my head from banging it against a brick wall. We formed a city centre group two years ago, and we have recorded the progress we have made and it makes for pitiful reading. We have counted up the working hours people put in, and it is something like 50 hours a head. And these are people with their own businesses to run.”

Ms Kelly said they had given the findings to the council six months ago, but have heard nothing back.

One of its recommendations was a grant-rebate scheme to encourage new businesses to fill the many vacant units in the city.

Ms Kelly said: “The grant-rebate scheme we mentioned is a fairly quick plan. That came up in brain storming sessions in April. Management seemed open to it, and spent a long time figuring out if there was a legal avenue to take with us. We still haven’t heard anything back.”

Ms Kelly said Galway organises great festivals and is building a Christmas Village in Eyre Square.

All Limerick City Council has come up with, she said, was a suggestion by one councillor for a raffle.

City manager Tom Mackey said he finds city councillors “passionate about the city centre and its success”.

“The city council has a key role to play in relation to the city. But it is not the only organisation involved in ensuring there is footfall in the city. It is much more complex than that,” he said.