BUSINESS lobby group
Inishowen Inc., have expressed disappointment that a
meeting with Council chiefs to negotiate a 25% cut
in commercial rates has been postponed.
An Inishowen Inc., spokesperson yesterday said the
meeting was postponed "due to unforeseen
circumstances".
"We met with the County Manager Michael McLoone and
senior staff previously in the summer and we are
anxious to meet with them again to consolidate our
request for a 25% reduction in rates for the
businesses in 2010.
"We have also met with all the councillors in
Inishowen and we have requested that they put
forward to the County Manager that the 2010 local
authority estimates take this reduction into
consideration." Inishowen Inc., which draws its
members from throughout the local business sector,
said reduced services should equate to reduced
rates.
"We need to make very clear to our local authority
that if the people of the Inishowen community are
set to expect a reduction in local authority
services due to a reduction in central Government
contribution to the Council, then we do not want to
pay the same money for reduced services." The group
which officially formed this year reiterated the
severe pressure local traders were under due to a
combination of factors including the economic
downturn, the decline in tourism numbers and an
unfavourable euro-sterling differential.
"There is definite pressure on individuals,
communities and businesses and there needs to be
negotiation, consultation and support to get through
this tough time. People are experiencing a lot of
difficulty in Inishowen and we, as a group, want to
do something positive even if it is just support
which can be very important.
"Rates are not the only issue we are tackling. We
are also in negotiations with utility providers; we
will meet with ministers and we are calling on all
the people of Inishowen to take a proactive attitude
to the place we live in." Inishowen Inc., are also
focusing on tourism and are in the process of
forging a number of cross border connections.
"We will also be communicating with many community
groups in our peninsula that carry out tremendous
work which underpins everything that we do here in
Inishowen. It is up to us, the people of Inishowen,
to make the place we live, a better place. We have
one of the strongest community sectors in the whole
of the country. With a 'can do' attitude we can
bring this area up. We have to do what we can for
ourselves." Meanwhile, the group is appealing to the
people of Inishowen to get in touch with their ideas
and suggestions. You can contact Inishowen Inc. at
inishoweninc@gmail.com or
commerce@buncrana.com . You can also call Breda
on 074 9321720.
Note: A number of convenors for each
sub-group within Inishowen Inc., have been
nominated. They are as follows:
Joint Convenors Government Liaison Sub-Group:
Christina McEleney
Tel: 087 653 8989
Email:
christinamceleney@gmail.com
Philip McGonigle
Tel: 087 8200808
Email:
philipmcgonigle@Carlinmclaughlin.ie
Convenor Tourism Sub-Group:
Donal Doherty
Tel: 087 2195577
Email:
info@harrys.ie
Convenor Business Development Sub-Group:
Kieran Henderson
Tel: 087 7860806
Email:
Kieran.Henderson@hotmail.com
Convenor Social and Community Sub-Group:
Jim McLaughlin
Tel: 0872338380
Email:
marimclaughlin@hotmail.com
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