Rates rise ‘will kill off flood-hit businesses’

Any rates increase on businesses which are still recovering from flooding in 2009 and 2012 will sound the death knell for several barely keeping their heads above water in the current economic climate.

That’s the stark warning from entrepreneurs in Clonakilty who believe the town should get a break because many can no longer get flood insurance and are put to the pin of their collar just to keep the doors open.

Phil O’Regan is a director of the successful Shannon Vale poultry plant, which happens to be in the county council-controlled area on the outskirts of the town. As such, her company pays far more in rates than if it was in the town council zone.