Castlebar focus of new retail study
CASTLEBAR is set to be the focus of a study on the evolving state of Mayo’s retail sector.
Terms of reference for the study are currently being compiled by the Enterprise and Investment Unit of Mayo County Council and will consider the state of the retail sector in the county town, establish key issues for the future development of the sector and identify initiatives and planning approaches to support the retail sector.
Once the terms of reference are completed a suitable consultant or research body will be appointed to complete the work.
It is anticipated that the work will be completed within a period of three months.
Financial support for the study will come from both the Western Development Commission (WDC) and Mayo County Council.
The study follows on the heels of a very successful seminar held recently as part of Mayo Ideas Week. The Retail Fights Back seminar highlighted a number of Mayo retail businesses that are at the forefront of a determined effort by retailers to position themselves to take advantage of the economic upturn.
Whilst acknowledging that the national upswing in the economic situation has yet to be fully felt in the west, the seminar highlighted that there was nevertheless a sense that many in the retail sector are confident of the future. There are many lessons to be learnt from the experience of retailers throughout the country and many of these were also highlighted.
Paddy McGuinness, chairperson of the Western Development Commission, stated that vibrant town centres were essential if towns in the region were to recover from the effects of the recession.
He was confident that the study would play a vital role in identifying good practice for the development of the retail sector in Mayo and throughout the region.
“The WDC recognises that retailers, and especially town centres, have suffered serious decline over the past decade. We are pleased to support the study of Castlebar as a pilot and hope that it will identify issues that have contributed to the decline and also suggest actions that will help to restore town centres to their traditional importance in the fabric of our communities,” he said.
John Magee of the Mayo County Council’s Enterprise and Investment Unit pointed out that Castlebar’s Main Street had benefited from significant investment in recent years, but that there was now the need to identify policy and other support options to breathe new vibrancy and energy into town centres.
“The retail sector is a major employer in Mayo and we are determined to do what we can to support its recovery. The findings and recommendations of this study will help us to do that,” he said.