Limerick’s city centre’s traders have demanded immediate action from City Hall in order to save what remains of Limerick’s city centre’s retail business.With threats being made to withdraw payment of rates and make city council bankrupt.
They pointed out an extensive list of what is wrong with the city such as
Poor garda presence on the streets, expensive parking,and beggars and heroin addicts causing intimidation.
Speaking at a meeting with Mayor Kevin Kiely and Fine Gael councillors, they said that compared to Dublin, Cork and Galway, Limerick city is not on the map.
Chief executive of Limerick Chamber, Maria Kelly, was acutely critical of the lack of co-operation and goodwill between the Limerick City and County Councils.
“There is no messing in Cork’s city centre because there are gardai all over, and in terms of image, Limerick’s is the worst in the country.
We have no visitors at the weekends unless there’s a big match - we need to make this a destination city.
In Cork, everyone is involved - we need to do the same as what we have now is a crisis situation - people held at knifepoint in their premises is terrible”.
Over 100 traders told the FG councillors that they are now literally on their knees. The mayor, on behalf of the nine FG councillors had invited them to voice their concerns which they, as the “pro business party” on the council, would take to the city manager.
“We are pro-business and have to decide how best to promote you the traders and stabilise jobs,” Cllr Ger Fahy told one trader, who wanted to know what City Hall is going to do to maintain business in Cruises Street, William Street and throughout the city.
Calls were made for free parking days from 11am. It was said that landlords need to be penalised for leaving their premises to run down, “when as it is, we are being served fines for €300 for putting out signage to promote our businesses”.
The general manager of Brown Thomas said it is essential that a major anchor sets up in the city. The meeting heard from a female retailer how she has been held at knifepoint in her shop on three occasions.
