Story: Inishowen Independent
A 4% increase in commercial rates is on the cards
for businesses in Buncrana when local councillors
meet for the Town Council’s annual budget meeting in
the town tonight.
And while it seems as if the proposed increase of 5%
by the Donegal County Council whose budget meeting
will be held on Friday could meet with some stiff
opposition, it is unclear if the proposed increase
will meet with similar opposition in Buncrana. With
the final closure of Fruit of the Loom the council
has over recent years lost its major source of
commercial rates. But according to local councillor
Padraig MacLochlainn there seems to have been extra
investment in funding for the council. “We put in an
application for extra funding because of the loss of
Fruit of the Loom and in fairness there seems to
have been extra investment there,” he said.
Cllr. MacLochlainn meanwhile said while the issue of
on-street parking has been in the headlines over the
past few weeks, it would be ten years at least
before there would be any profit for the council
from the charges.
“All of the money from the charges will be
re-invested in car parking and we will be working to
ensure that the issues raised since the charges were
introduced are addressed.”
Cllr. MacLochlainn said that members were aware of a
number of issues that have arisen in recent weeks
over the parking charges.
“I think it is fair to say that all of the members
are aware that there have been problems, but we will
work to try to address these as soon as we can. As
long as the core issue of maintaining spaces in the
heart of the town and allowing a free flow of
traffic through the town is not compromised I would
say that all solutions to the problems that have
arisen will be looked at.”
The Sinn Féin councillor said he hoped that
affordable long-term parking for the town’s workers
would be available as soon as possible.
“The key message is that people should not think
that councillors have imposed a system and said
'that is that', we will continue to try and improve
the situation in the town and look at suggestions
that will help alleviate problems,” he added. |
