Chamber calls crisis meeting over rates

ENNISCORTHY & District Chamber is to host an emergency meeting on the controversial topic of rates this Thursday night, following the imposition of substantial increases on a number of businesses in town.

The issue of rates is one which has sparked fury among business owners in recent weeks following the re-valuation of a number of premises by the Dublin based valuations office.

In the wake of the increases, one local business, Mary Elizabeth’s boutique on Castle Street, has opted to close down it’s Enniscorthy operation and instead move to Bunclody where rates are more manageable.

The meeting will take place in The Riverside Park Hotel at 8 p.m. and in a statement Enniscorthy Chamber said it is fearful that the re-valuation process presently underway will lead to further shop closures and job losses with the town having already losing one long-term business.

‘The fear now is that others will follow suit whether by re-locating or closing down completely and at a time when Enniscorthy’s economic climate is showing the first tentative signs of growth, this situation is totally unacceptable to local business organisations such as The Chamber of Commerce and the Enniscorthy Business Association,’ the statement read. ‘All members of Enniscorthy Municipal Authority, together with Oireachtas members Paul Kehoe and James Browne, have been invited to the meeting which is being organised by Enniscorthy and District Chamber of Commerce in response to demands for action by shop owners and business interests in the town.’

Also present on the night will be senior representatives from Wexford County Coun- cil’s rates department who will endeavour to explain the process employed in re-valuing properties and how property owners can minimise rates increases after revaluation.

Chamber of Commerce President, Maree Lyng says she is deeply concerned about the developing situation and says that everything possible should and must be done to protect business interests in both Enniscorthy and Bunclody and elsewhere throughout the district. The Chamber, she added, called Thursday night’s meeting in order for the business community to express their concerns to the appropriate authorities in the hope their fears will be acted on. ‘Substantial rate increase demands at this juncture,’ she said, ‘are placing far too great a strain on the financial resources of most, if not all, business people and the Chamber of Commerce in Enniscorthy is very concerned about the situation.’