This article is from page 2 of the 2009-02-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
MEMBERS of the Ennis Forum are set to protest outside the offices of Ennis Town Council next Monday, WW ETKe see
Businesses are to gather at Guar- anakilla in the upper market area of Ennis at 2.30pm before marching to Waterpark House. The March month- ly meeting of Ennis Town Council is due to take place 3.30pm.
Prior to that meeting, representa- tives of the business lobby group will also deliver a letter outlining a number of issues that they insist the council must immediately address.
The forum is calling for commer- cial rates to be frozen at 2008 levels.
Members of Ennis Town Council agreed last December to increase commercial rates by three per cent.
Selo Coacreem-UNOMyc-VelRMN eke ttbate es to be phased in gradually and not levied as one large payment.
Public parking and taxi rank serv- ices are the other main issues ad- dressed in the letter.
‘All businesses are looking for a re- duction in the cost of doing business and an improvement in services,” said local Fine Gael councillor and Ennis Forum committee member, Johnny Flynn.
He continued, “We are asking that Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council step up and play their part to lower costs and retain
jobs in Ennis. Because that’s what’s its all about, keeping jobs in Ennis.”
CEO of Ennis Chamber and En- nis Forum committee member, Rita McInerney, said the forum had met regularly since a committee was es- tablished two weeks ago.
She said the objective of the protest was to publicly raise the concerns that have emerged in the business community over the past number of years.
“We want to sit down and find a way forward with the council. We are looking for an immediate reduction in rates and an immediate suspension in water charges. We understand that we have to pay for the interim treat- ment plant but there has been a huge
increase in water charges. It makes it difficult for any business trying to budget for the year ahead,” she said.
Ms McInerney said the forum was eager to meet with councillors and council officials but warned that all parties would have to be equally rep- resented at meetings.
“We want to make sure that all businesses have their voices heard,” she said.
Of the prospect of the Ennis Forum fielding a candidate in the forthcom- ing local elections, an option put for- ward at a Forum meeting two weeks, Ms McInerney said that the elections was not an “immediate issue’ and had not been discussed by the com- Hep LAK Lon