Letters to the Editor: Rate hikes will hollow out communities

One reader writes in to say that 'many towns are facing an existential threat as businesses shutter their doors, streets become deserted, and communities dwindle'

'Businesses, already struggling to stay afloat amidst the rise of online commerce, are now burdened with unsustainable financial obligations', one person writes.

I write to you about a trend that is becoming all too common — the haunting development of empty towns. As a resident and business owner in Kenmare, Kerry, I am witnessing first-hand the alarming rate at which our vibrant community is deteriorating, and may further do so, due to economic pressures and neglect.

Small towns like Kenmare have long been the lifeblood of Ireland, each one possessing its own unique charm and character. However, in recent years, many of these towns are facing an existential threat as businesses shutter their doors, streets become deserted, and once-thriving communities dwindle.