Limerick business owners find council workers ready to demolish parklets 'without notice'

"I arrived to Brew this morning, and two workers were beginning preparations for demolition," said Crew Brewing Co owner Jono Crute. "I called two local councillors and they came round to the site and helped to get work stopped temporarily."

The parklet outside Thomas Street in Limerick City.

A Limerick business owner was left baffled when he found council workers getting ready to “demolish” the parklets in front of his bar “without any notice”.

Council workers were getting ready to take apart the parklets installed in front of Crew Brewing Co on Thomas Street on Tuesday morning when they were stopped by the bar owner.

According to the owner, Jono Crute, the employees were told to make sure to get on site early so they would not be interrupted.

Jono Crute of Crew Brewing Co, Thomas Street , Limerick. Picture: Brian Arthur

“They have, overnight, and without any contact whatsoever, attempted to remove infrastructure that would cause us to close,” he told the Irish Examiner.

“I arrived to Brew this morning, and two workers were beginning preparations for demolition. I called two local councillors and they came round to the site and helped to get work stopped temporarily."

He said there has been no formal contact from the council about this morning’s procedure — and that he was not informed the structure would be removed.

“The only contact I had with any council workers was I noticed two outside inspecting the parklet a few months back,” Mr Crute explained.

"I enquired with them about what was going on, and was told that it would remain as they were only removing dangerous and unused pallets. 

I had no further contact until an engineer was sent today to resolve the dispute."

Mr Crute has attempted to set up a meeting with the relevant official after being told by the council engineer that there may be a long-term plan to replace them with more permanent structures.

“The outdoor area represents about 25% of our revenue, our business loses money across the winter and recovers in the summer every year," he added. "Unfortunately, without an assurance that this will happen, we will be forced to close on January 1."

'Continuous engagement'

A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council denied there had been no engagement with businesses in the city about the removal of the structures.

“The council has had continuous engagement with the owners of businesses adjacent to these structures, which are located in public spaces,” the spokesperson said, in a response to a query sent by the Irish Examiner.

According to the spokesperson, the parklets were installed five years ago as a “temporary measure” to assist the local economy recovery during and after the covid lockdowns.

“The structures were intended to last for one year, but the council allowed them to remain for an extended period in response to requests from local businesses.

“The council has been monitoring the condition of the structures and also received submissions from the public about their deteriorating condition.

“It became clear that the timbers in the structures were failing in these parklets, and they were posing a risk to public safety. The council also received complaints about littering and antisocial behaviour associated with some of the parklets, as well as after-hours use that impacted local residents,” the spokesperson said.

Removal programme

The council has commenced a removal programme for all parklets across the city.

It is understood the move has caused worry among several business owners in the city, who maintained there was no formal engagement with the council, and that they were left blindsided.

Local councillors Elisa O’Donovan and Shane Hickey-O’Mara showed up on Tuesday morning on Thomas Street after receiving a call from the “concerned owner”.

Despite the response from the council, Ms O’Donovan maintains the move was not communicated to any businesses or councillors.

“I met with the council engineer and crew today and we thankfully managed to get a delay in the removal of this well-used and loved parklet, which is a great asset to Thomas St and Crew,” she said.

"The council have committed now to working with Crew to provide an alternative outdoor space for use by this very popular and much-needed business in the city centre.

“The parklets apparently have to be removed on health and safety grounds. We are fine with that, if required, but we need a commitment that an alternative outdoor space will be provided.”

Hefty cost

A parklet with a price tag of €78,501 was built on O’Connell Street in 2020, before being removed as part of a refurbishment plan the next year. In 2024, the furniture from the parklet was to be reused on Clancy Strand.

When the council announced it was to be removed at the time, a spokesperson defended the hefty cost, arguing it had been developed as a “medium- to long-term amenity” which was of a “particularly high standard”.