Traders oppose retail plans as Ennis has 70 vacant units

OVER 70 potential retail units in a county town are vacant, independent retailer representative body RGDATA has claimed.

Its claim forms the basis of an objection to a €34 million retail park on the fringes of Ennis, Co Clare.

Tomorrow, Ennis Town Council is due to make a decision on contentious plans by construction company Michael Lynch Ltd for the development of a retail park on the southern fringes of the town.

The proposal faces widespread opposition from various local traders.

However, the developer claims the project could create 300 construction jobs along with about 180-200 permanent jobs when operational.

Now, in a fresh submission on the proposal, RGDATA states: “There are presently over 70 vacant retail units in Ennis town. The key focus should be on the regeneration of the town centre and encouraging new retail developments and formats into the vacant town centre sites instead of permitting a very large counter attraction which is removed from the town core.”

The submission continues: “RGDATA contend that due to the magnitude of the comparison floorspace, small businesses in Ennis town will suffer loss of trade and footfall. The proposed large store will draw the business from the existing retail outlets operating in the retail core.”

Meanwhile, in a new submission, Ennis Chamber of Commerce also claim the proposal “is likely to cause significant damage to the economic health and well-being of the town of Ennis”.

Consultant for the chamber, Michael Leahy, said: “The proposal to provide a major out-of-town retail centre at a time when vacancy rates are at levels which have not been witnessed before in modern times seems to fly in the face of common sense.

“The provision of an out-of-town development equivalent almost to a further one third of the retail area within the town centre at a time of serious retail difficult would have the potential to be ruinous to that town centre.”

Mr Leahy states that given what has happened in the economy “it would be astonishing if, in the teeth of the greatest retail collapse in living memory, the planning authority should grant permission for a major retail development in an out of centre location”.

However, promoter Michael Lynch said: “The objective of our proposed development is to help stem the haemorrhage of retail expenditure to Limerick and other centres and to help sustain local jobs in Ennis.”