Labour candidate hears Carrick-on-Suir traders' views on plans for Main St. parking

Waiting to meet Tipperary South Labour candidate Cllr Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan as he starts his canvas of Carrick-on-Suir’s Main Street are some members of the MBI action group of traders, property owners and residents opposing regeneration scheme plans to remove over 20 parking spaces from the street.

The Killenaule man has championed small businesses during the election campaign speaking out against the Council’s proposal to hike commercial rates by 6% and organising a public meeting in Clonmel about issues impacting the town’s business community.

He has also taken up the cause of the Main Street Business Initiative group, urging the Council to resume engagement with the group.

MBI member Tina Norris of the Central Grill restaurant said she was delighted Cllr Brennan had come to Carrick to meet them and criticised the town’s two councillors for not supporting them.

“My concern is our livelihood and business is there 50 years. Our customers pull up outside, run in and buy what they want to buy and away they go.”

She fears they will go elsewhere to get their bag of chips if so many parking spaces are taken away from the street. She doesn’t believe they will walk up from the town’s car parks.

“I would have been happy if our local council went half way and gave us back half the parking spaces they were taking away,” she said.

She is disappointed the Council is now refusing to meet the MBI.

“The Council will meet us all individually but we are here as a group trying to keep our businesses going. I am not just fighting for my business. What about the next generation?. We live on the street as well.”

Cllr Brennan, who with his wife Helen runs Clonacody House near Fethard, tells MBI members he knows the struggles of life in business.

“I am delighted to be here standing up for ye. Ye are the traders who are the spirit of this town. What disappoints me with the Council is that they will talk individually with you but not as a group.”

Another MBI member Denise Carew, who manages the Jack & Jill Foundation shop at 18 Main Street, is worried the reduction in parking spaces will deter people from dropping off stock to the charity shop and will make it difficult for her elderly volunteers, some of whom are in their 80s, to get parking near the shop.

“I think it’s just ridiculous,” she said.

MBI members Maurice and Michael Whelan of Whelan’s Butchers on 72 Main Street also highlight their concerns with Cllr Brennan.

Maurice said they are in business two generations and estimated 70% of their trade is customers pulling in to park on the street and buy two lamb chops or a pound of mince and move on again.

He fears the reduction in parking could ruin a lot of businesses on the street with a “stroke of a pen.” Elderly people and people bringing in their mothers to shop on the street already find it difficult to get parking spaces on the street, he points out.

Mr Whelan said the MBI had gathered a petition of over 5,000 signatures in support of their cause and the group was disappointed their local councillors didn't attend a meeting the group held in the Carraig Hotel in September.

He pointed out that refusing to pay rates, non-co-operation with contractors who come to do the regeneration scheme works on the street and a judicial review legal action are among the future actions the MBI is considering in its campaign. 

Lily Butler of Carrick Carpets on North Quay said she worked in the former Butler Electrical store on Main Street for many years and from her experience’s it’s vital to retain parking on the street.

She is concerned about the knock-on impact the reduction in parking spaces will have on businesses on the the street and on parking and businesses on neighbouring streets.

She believes the extra parking proposed by the Council is too far away from Main Street, particularly for elderly people and mothers of young children. There was a social aspect to coming into the town centre for elderly people and she is concerned if this is made more difficult for them.

“My daughter has taken over my business and I want it to continue for her. I would like to keep as many businesses in the town as we can,” she said.

Cllr Brennan continues down the street leaving in leaflets to businesses, meeting staff and owners.

MBI members Antoinette Estrella of Electic Finds Thrift Shop and Paul O’Sullivan of Splash & Chat internet café and launderette all give him a warm welcome but he gets a different reception from another retailer who lets him know not all businesses on Main Street support the action group.

“A lot of retailers in Carrick are very supportive of the Regeneration and the investment that the town is getting after years and years,” he informs the candidate.

He points out that the Council is making alternative arrangements to replace parking that will be lost on Main Street by extending Strand Lane car park and creating a new car park on Stable Lane.

The trader, who didn’t wish to be named, criticised the MBI’s “tactics”.

Cllr Brennan responds that all he is looking for is the Council to resume engaging with the MBI about its members concerns.

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Tipperary South Labour candidate Michael 'Chicken' Brennan hears voters views on canvas of Carrick-on-Suir