Parking costs major issue, warn Cork city traders

Parking costs in Cork city centre are still one of the single biggest challenges facing the struggling retail sector, a leading businessman has warned.

Maher’s Sports boss Tommy Maher was speaking after the shock closure of landmark North Main St business, Roman House, and ahead of the closure of his North Main St outlet later this month.

Mr Maher, who has been in business since the early 70s, stressed that his large Oliver Plunkett St outlet is staying open, but said customers in his city shops are constantly complaining about the high cost of parking in the city.

“It is without doubt one of the single biggest issues facing retailers,” he said.

“And we haven’t seen much sign of economic recovery. Christmas was ok but the recovery hasn’t been felt on the retail scene in this city yet.”

The closure of two landmark outlets on what was once one of the city’s main shopping streets prompted calls last night for a huge state-funded urban regeneration scheme in the area.

Deputy mayor Cllr Ken O’Flynn said the closure of the iconic Roman House after some 60 years in business, the impending closure of one of the Maher’s outlets, and the steady decline of the street in recent years, proves the need for drastic action.

“We’ve been talking about the need to do something with North Main St for five or six years,” he said.

“We must act now but it must be meaningful. I have written over the weekend to the city’s chief executive asking her to explore the possibility of seeking government grants for an urban regeneration scheme in this area.

“We should use the template used on O’Connell St in Dublin and simply copy and paste elements of it here.”

He said city officials should use the proposed €54m events centre on nearby South Main St as leverage in any bid for funding.

“It could be the centrepiece of a major regeneration scheme of the city’s historic spine,” he said.”