THE BUSINESS people of
Inishowen need to come together and ensure positive
action is taken to stave off any more effects of the
ongoing recession, according to Buncrana supermarket
owner Paul Bradley.
Mr. Bradley urged business people across the
peninsula to attend a meeting in the Plaza,
Buncrana, on Thursday night, June 18, at 7.30pm. He
said unless urgent action is taken, businesses in
Inishowen could find themselves in dire straits.
“Honestly I believe that we need to get our heads
together and come up with a plan and if possible a
positive plan. I don’t think that negative action
like rates strikes will work, we need to come up
with something to stimulate the economy here,” he
said.
The former town councillor maintained that a case
for special status for Inishowen should be made and
the case must be made loud and clear.
“The case for a special status has been made for
Inishowen but has never been acted upon, but I think
it needs to be made again and this time the message
should be very loud and very clear, unless we get
positive action we will be in serious trouble.” The
former Town Councillor insisted that a special tax
status to encourage tourism is one way in which the
special status could be applied to Inishowen and
said that a strong and cohesive message needs to go
out from the people of Inishowen.
Already meetings have been held in Moville and
Ballyliffin and those who organised those meetings
are fully behind this Thursday's gathering.
“It is believed that the current severe recession
will continue indefinitely and the present level of
trade experienced by most traders in Inishowen is
insufficient for viability.” The organisers say that
the immediate objective of Thursday night’s meeting
is to gauge sentiment about demanding an across the
board halving of rates, and similar measures, in
Border areas for a limited period.
They also say that the meeting will be also used to
begin the formation of an organisation of people and
resources to address the worsening crisis in terms
of causes and remedies. “Attention must also be paid
to the increasing social and financial pressures on
families and others in the wider community and we
are hoping that as many people as possible will come
along to the open meeting to develop these issues,”
a spokesman for the organisers said. |
