Monday, December 15, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Golden mile rents 'crippling' retailers
MAIN STREET SHOPS FETCH UP TO ¤250,000 A YEAR
Anne Marie O'CONNOR Wexford People
EMPTY SHOP units in middle of Wexford's golden mile Main Street are seeking rents of up to ¤245,000 per annum.
The unit, formerly occupied by Joyce's in the centre of the town, is currently being offered for let. But anyone considering the lease must be prepared to pay nearly ¤5,000 a week in rent alone.
Smaller vacant units for let at the moment include the former Wool Shop at South Main Street now owned by Bobby O'Neill, and the jewellers shop once occupied by Laurence Woods. Each of these premises can be rented for ¤100,000 per annum.
At a time when the business community are calling on the local authority to adopt a rates freeze, Cllr. George Lawlor has lashed back saying the cost of rents are what's crippling the retailers in Wexford.
'We have heard calls from some sectors for the local authority to freeze or cut rates, however when you examine the cost of doing business in Wexford it is clear that the rent being changed by landlords to business is colossal,' he said.
'I have spoken to business perople who have told me of the figures they are paying at present. One restaurant on the Main Street is paying ¤50,000 per anum in rent, while another small shop is paying ¤32,000. Some of the bigger outlets are playing well in excess of ¤250,000 in rent,' he added.
Calling on landlords to review what they charge tenants during the economic downturn, Cllr. Lawlor said they had to 'be realistic in their rental demands'.
'We have a lot of empty premises on our Main Street at the moment. It is my belief that they are not empty because of Local Authority rates, but because of the huge rents being asked for. It is time that landlords become realistic and give their tenants a break. They have had it good for a long time now, they must strongly consider reducing rental charges in an effort to keep a strong and vibrant Main Street alive.'
As a business owner himself, Cllr. Lawlor said that he himself pays ¤3,000 per annum in commercial rates to Wexford Borough Council.
'Wexford Borough Council continues to invest in the Main Street. We will have spent ¤7 million on repaving whien it's finisted. We have transformed Selskar Suare and we continue to spend over ¤500,000 a year on street cleaning throughout the town. Some of the landlords on the Main Street won't even replace chutes and downpipes that are broken despite the fact that they are making huge profits on rental income,' he said.
Wexford Chamber of Commerce, however, are still hoping for a rates freeze by Wexford Borough Council when they complete their budget estimates later this y ear.
'We would certainly object to any increases in the rate, as they certainly won't help business in the current climate. All increases are going to be difficult to take,' she said.
Anne Marie O'CONNOR Wexford People
EMPTY SHOP units in middle of Wexford's golden mile Main Street are seeking rents of up to ¤245,000 per annum.
The unit, formerly occupied by Joyce's in the centre of the town, is currently being offered for let. But anyone considering the lease must be prepared to pay nearly ¤5,000 a week in rent alone.
Smaller vacant units for let at the moment include the former Wool Shop at South Main Street now owned by Bobby O'Neill, and the jewellers shop once occupied by Laurence Woods. Each of these premises can be rented for ¤100,000 per annum.
At a time when the business community are calling on the local authority to adopt a rates freeze, Cllr. George Lawlor has lashed back saying the cost of rents are what's crippling the retailers in Wexford.
'We have heard calls from some sectors for the local authority to freeze or cut rates, however when you examine the cost of doing business in Wexford it is clear that the rent being changed by landlords to business is colossal,' he said.
'I have spoken to business perople who have told me of the figures they are paying at present. One restaurant on the Main Street is paying ¤50,000 per anum in rent, while another small shop is paying ¤32,000. Some of the bigger outlets are playing well in excess of ¤250,000 in rent,' he added.
Calling on landlords to review what they charge tenants during the economic downturn, Cllr. Lawlor said they had to 'be realistic in their rental demands'.
'We have a lot of empty premises on our Main Street at the moment. It is my belief that they are not empty because of Local Authority rates, but because of the huge rents being asked for. It is time that landlords become realistic and give their tenants a break. They have had it good for a long time now, they must strongly consider reducing rental charges in an effort to keep a strong and vibrant Main Street alive.'
As a business owner himself, Cllr. Lawlor said that he himself pays ¤3,000 per annum in commercial rates to Wexford Borough Council.
'Wexford Borough Council continues to invest in the Main Street. We will have spent ¤7 million on repaving whien it's finisted. We have transformed Selskar Suare and we continue to spend over ¤500,000 a year on street cleaning throughout the town. Some of the landlords on the Main Street won't even replace chutes and downpipes that are broken despite the fact that they are making huge profits on rental income,' he said.
Wexford Chamber of Commerce, however, are still hoping for a rates freeze by Wexford Borough Council when they complete their budget estimates later this y ear.
'We would certainly object to any increases in the rate, as they certainly won't help business in the current climate. All increases are going to be difficult to take,' she said.
Council hopeful quits Fianna Fáil
VINCENT KENNEDY SLAMS 'DICTATORSHIP'
By Conor CULLEN
Wednesday December 03 2008
A WEXFORD Fianna Fáil member has resigned from the party in protest over the way candidates are being selected for next year's local elections.
Murrintown resident Vincent Kennedy (40) tendered his resignation from the party to Senator Lisa McDonald, who in turn sent it on to party HQ in Dublin.
Mr. Kennedy was PRO for Fianna Fáil in the Wexford district and a member of the Officer's Board of the Comhairle Dáil.
He had wished to stand for the party in local elections, seeking a seat on Wexford County Council. However, following a heated meeting in Wexford last week, he decided to resign from the party.
Previously, Fianna Fáil party members have always selected their own candidates at convention, but now all potential councillors are being chosen by a selection committee following an interview process. This includes existing members.
Mr. Kennedy had gone through the interview process once before, when Senator McDonald was appointed to the Seanad by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
That time the selection committee picked Wexford town's Fergie Kehoe to replace Senator McDonald, a decision which Mr. Kennedy says still rankles with the people of Piercestown, Murrintown and the wider area as Senator McDonald was selected as a County Councillor for that area, but was replaced with a town-based Councillor.
Mr. Kennedy said this time, before going to interview, he asked for an assessment on how he had done the last time. 'They just laughed at me and told me there's no such thing,' he said.
'If you go for any job interview you should be entitled to feedback,' said Mr. Kennedy.
'An interview is fine if it's a level playing field, but the consensus out there is that all things are not equal and there's too much outside interference. I feel the whip is being used a little too much in the party now. It's gone from democracy to dictatorship,' he said.
Mr. Kennedy joined Fianna Fáil 21 years ago when he said he was working in the Ferrycarrig Hotel and he was 'indoctrinated' into the party by the visiting Charlie Haughey.
He said the decision to resign from the party was a 'very tough' one, but he has received a lot of support in recent days. Mr. Kennedy has not ruled out standing as an independent candidate in the local elections next year.
By Conor CULLEN
Wednesday December 03 2008
A WEXFORD Fianna Fáil member has resigned from the party in protest over the way candidates are being selected for next year's local elections.
Murrintown resident Vincent Kennedy (40) tendered his resignation from the party to Senator Lisa McDonald, who in turn sent it on to party HQ in Dublin.
Mr. Kennedy was PRO for Fianna Fáil in the Wexford district and a member of the Officer's Board of the Comhairle Dáil.
He had wished to stand for the party in local elections, seeking a seat on Wexford County Council. However, following a heated meeting in Wexford last week, he decided to resign from the party.
Previously, Fianna Fáil party members have always selected their own candidates at convention, but now all potential councillors are being chosen by a selection committee following an interview process. This includes existing members.
Mr. Kennedy had gone through the interview process once before, when Senator McDonald was appointed to the Seanad by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
That time the selection committee picked Wexford town's Fergie Kehoe to replace Senator McDonald, a decision which Mr. Kennedy says still rankles with the people of Piercestown, Murrintown and the wider area as Senator McDonald was selected as a County Councillor for that area, but was replaced with a town-based Councillor.
Mr. Kennedy said this time, before going to interview, he asked for an assessment on how he had done the last time. 'They just laughed at me and told me there's no such thing,' he said.
'If you go for any job interview you should be entitled to feedback,' said Mr. Kennedy.
'An interview is fine if it's a level playing field, but the consensus out there is that all things are not equal and there's too much outside interference. I feel the whip is being used a little too much in the party now. It's gone from democracy to dictatorship,' he said.
Mr. Kennedy joined Fianna Fáil 21 years ago when he said he was working in the Ferrycarrig Hotel and he was 'indoctrinated' into the party by the visiting Charlie Haughey.
He said the decision to resign from the party was a 'very tough' one, but he has received a lot of support in recent days. Mr. Kennedy has not ruled out standing as an independent candidate in the local elections next year.
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