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Dun Laoghaire survey reveals impact of the recession

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

A RECENT Green Party survey has revealed how the recession has severely impacted upon Dun Laoghaire, with more than one in five commercial premises in the town lying vacant. The study of commercial property in the town looked at 247 units in and around George’s Street, and discovered that 21 per cent of ground-level shop units are lying idle. The count took in from the Dún Laoghaire Social Welfare Office to the entrance to the People’s Park. Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre was excluded from the study. It found that there were 52 vacant units (21 per cent) in the area surveyed. Over 180 residents and business owners attended a meeting organised by Minister of State, Ciarán Cuffe (GP) last week to discuss the findings. Speaking to Southside People after the meeting, the general secretary of the Dun Laoghaire Business Association (DLBA), Breasal O'Caollai, called on the local county council to engage in “partnership” with business people in an attempt to improve the situation. “We never had a boom in Dun Laoghaire,” he said. “This town should be a lot more tourist friendly. The most important thing for people when they go shopping is parking. Cars should be welcome in Dun Laoghaire but they are not, largely because of high parking charges and the one-way traffic system. “We need partnership between the businesses, the residential community and the county council.” The chairperson of An Taisce’s Dun Laoghaire branch, Gene Feighery, said the lack of viable businesses in Dun Laoghaire was having a detrimental effect on the town's historic commercial architecture and shop fronts. She also called on the council to change its policy of generating revenue through parking. She said An Taisce was very concerned about a new objective in the County Development plan, which meant that 40 per cent of open spaces zoned F ‘Open Space and Recreation’ could be turned into car parking spaces. “Probably the most dangerous objective on our county development plan is zoning objective F, which is open space and recreation,” she said. “This is saying that up to 40 per cent of our open space can be built on for surface car parking. An Taisce will be seeking support from local businesses on this issue because generating revenue from parking is killing this town.” Deputy Cuffe said urgent action must be taken to support existing retailers and to encourage new businesses to set up in Dun Laoghaire. “Some of the suggestions that arose at the meeting included a greening of the town through tree planting, a review of current parking arrangements, promoting small businesses, protecting open spaces and developing a strong identity that is unique and separate to other parts of Dublin. “The next step is to take these recommendations from local residents and business owners to the county council and other key players. We must all work together to revitalise our town.” A spokesman for the council said it had worked recently in collaboration with the DLBA on a number of projects aimed at accentuating and promoting the positive aspects of Dún Laoghaire. These included the BRAND project, a partnership initiative between community and business organisations, residents, the council and other initiatives to attract cruise operators to Dún Laoghaire port and harbour. "Real progress can only be achieved through partnership and cooperation,” he said. “The council looks forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders to promote the positive aspects of Dún Laoghaire.”