This article is from page 6 of the 2013-12-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
GARDA plans aimed at curbing crime in Ennis town centre over the Christmas period will be unveiled at a meeting on Monday night.
The annual Christmas Business Watch meeting will take place at Ennis Garda Station on Monday, December 16, 6.15pm-7pm.
All businesses are invited to attend the meeting. The Ennis Chamber Garda Accord was established in 2003 to formalise meetings between the business community and the local Gardaí.
Members of the Garda Crime Prevention Unit and Business Liaison Team will be in attendance to give advice to businesses on how best to protect themselves, cash and premises in the busy Christmas period. The Gardaí will also answer any question from the business community in relation to security issues throughout the year.
Businesses will also hear first-hand Ennis Gardaí’s activities in relation to Beat-on-the-Street and about conditions for Pedestrianisation in the Christmas Shopping Period. Ennis’s Purple Flag Award will also be discussed as to how the town can ensure the retention of this accolade in 2014.
The meeting comes after businesses in the Market raised concerns over “aggressive behaviour” of some groups of young people in the area.
Ennis councilor, Johnny Flynn (FG) said the concerns were highlighted at a recent meeting with representatives of businesses in the Market.
He stated, “During the meeting the majority expressed serious concerns for themselves, their staff and customers as a result of aggressive behaviour of groups of young people
He continued, “The businesses claim that it is the same group that are causing damage to both business and negatively impact on the public perception of safety whilst shopping or strolling through their business area.
“The ability of businesses to pay rates, other local government costs, etc, they say, are directly related to the ability to trade successfully in a safe and attractive area. They believe that all the good work of both the Council and both in promoting and managing Ennis can be undone by this small sector of society”.
According to Cllr Flynn, some business owners “have witnessed tourists and locals leaving their street at haste when some hassle between the youths and or various families ‘kicks off’.”