Renewed call for targeted support for Mayo town centres
A MAYO election candidate has called for targeted support for town centres across the county.
Fine Gael Senator Michelle Mulherin said imagination regarding commercial rates is needed to help rejuvenate retail sectors.
She elaborated: "Last year I spoke on government legislation which provides for local authorities to introduce rates alleviation schemes to implement policy objectives to support small businesses.
"This would revitalise town centres and villages. Such a scheme has not been done before.
"This is targeted legislation and should be used to drive on our towns like Ballina, Swinford, Charlestown Kiltimagh and Ballyhaunis.
“These include policy objectives contained within the Action Plan for Rural Development, local economic and community plans developed by local authorities and planning objectives set out in development plans and local area plans.
"This new mechanism could be used to allow municipal district members to introduce schemes to help rejuvenate towns and villages in their respective areas.
"We are all well versed on the considerable challenges facing shops on the main streets of towns and villages, including the bigger towns, due to online selling and out of town multiple retailers. Online retailers also do not have to pay commercial rates.
“Unfortunately, we see too many of these shops closed on our main streets and it is a depressing sight. Small shops and businesses in our town centres are not on a level playing field.
"We need to develop and implement a new model for how we levy commercial rates on small businesses in our town centre and recognize the public good and desirability of maintaining these shops.
"Rates in Mayo have risen by a staggering 6% in the past two years and we need to see innovation around renewing our town centres which this legislation provides for immediately. This is an opportunity for Mayo County Council.
"We should all be working to rejuvenate the centre of our rural towns and villages and create sustainable jobs to allow people to raise a family and grow old in.
"The government invested €838,532 in the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2019 and €1.18m the previous year.
"Through a range of initiatives, total funding provided to our county from the Department of Rural and Community Development has increased by 104% year-on-year.
"But, what I'm hearing on the ground during this campaign is that small and medium businesses do not want a handout but rather some common sense practical solutions to stave off the many challenges they encounter on a weekly basis.
"Business people are facing increased utility charges, wage costs, pressure from large out-of-town shopping centres and in County Mayo a rise in rates of 4% this year alone.
"Mayo County Council, by working together, in consultation with businesses in each of the towns in Mayo, can come up with tailored solutions to sustain and develop small family-run shops and businesses - the lifeblood of many of our towns and villages."