by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
BUNCRANA Town councillor and supermarket owner Paul
Bradley has called for a 20% reduction in Buncrana’s
commercial rate in 2010 and has warned that if the
current economic circumstances persist, the town
will have fewer ratepayers at the end of 2009 than
at the end of 2008.
Councillor Bradley made his comments during a debate
on uncollected rates at last week’s Town Council
meeting where members were informed that €706,421
remains outstanding from 2008. That is more than
half the €1.3 million in rates levied in the town
for the year.
Cllr Bradley said that the shortfall in rates
collection wasn’t surprising given the downturn in
business in Buncrana. Owner of the EuroSpar
supermarket on St Mary’s Road, Cllr Bradley is one
of the bigger ratepayers in the town and he admitted
that settling his 2008 account was very difficult.
“I’ve had to cut back on wages and the jobs of some
of the 25 people working for me are under threat,”
he said, predicting that Buncrana will see its
business base shrink still further in the difficult
economic climate.
“What’s happening in Buncrana is very serious,” he
continued. “While we didn’t increase rates for 2009,
ratepayers will need a reduction of 20% in 2010.”
Councillors were also shown a schedule of ratepayers
in the town, with Cllr Bradley afterwards noting 28
vacant properties on which rates cannot be applied,
further impacting on the Council’s annual income.
Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn appealed to people to shop
local where possible. “If businesses close down, our
income from rates will decrease and the council will
not be able to carry out the necessary work on
footpaths, street lighting or providing social
housing,” he warned.
“People need to shop local where they can as it
impacts directly on employment in the town,” Mayor
Dermot McLaughlin agreed.
“It’s a myth that everything is cheaper in the
North,” Cllr Peter McLaughlin said, giving the
example of one local retailer who had proven that he
could sell televisions more cheaply than his
competitors in the North.
Cllr MacLochlainn said that well-established
businesses in Buncrana were suffering through no
fault of their own, but rather because of the
collapse in the value of Sterling and the difference
in VAT rates between the Republic and the North.
“It’s heartbreaking to see businesses here
struggling because of circumstances outside of their
control,” he said.
He called on town councils from border areas to come
together to lobby the Government, the Northern
Ireland Executive, and the British Government to
start a process of tax harmonisation between the
Republic and the North. |
