Local working group must act fast as Gorey re-opens

THIS WEEK is an important one for the newly formed working group made up of Wexford Chamber, Wexford Tourism as well as councillors and staff of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District as they prepare a proposal to be approved at the statutory meeting on Tuesday next, June 16.

The message is clear that the Municipal District are still open to suggestions from individual businesses on what might help them to get back up and running in a safe manner, but now is the time to start implementing measures as quickly as possible.

District Manager Michael Drea said that the group must be flexible and fluid when it comes to change.

‘Our only source of funding for this is Wexford County Council, and the reality is that when we adopted a budget for the Municipal District at the start of the year, there was no provision for Covid-19. However, I envisage that a certain amount of the festivals budget that is going to be unspent will be used for this purpose, assuming the councillors are agreeable to it. We are still hopeful that we can use some of the budget at Halloween and in November for the Christmas Lights switch on.

‘We’ve taken on board feedback from Wexford County Chamber after it facilitated a Zoom call with businesses and will be implementing softer measures as usual such as improving the aesthetics of the Main Street in Gorey with cleaning and flowers. This week we want to look at the physical measures on what businesses want. Gorey is an obvious priority but we need to be conscious of the entire district.

‘Businesses appeared to be against the pedestrianisation of the Main Street, and we will need to see to what extent is queuing a real issue there. If it presents to be, we’re going to have to consider some sort of an arrangement such as taking out some on-street parking.

Mr Drea said that some practical suggestions included temporarily relocating the bus stops, while other suggestions included over-head panels for the public to queue under, and the imposing of pedestrianisation during certain time-frames, for example setting up a nighttime economy.

‘We could certainly look at parts of the town if there was an appetite for that but what we can do is set up a queuing system and provide businesses with standardized stickers and signs. These are exceptional times, so we are absolutely willing to listen to all suggestions and engage to assist businesses,’ he said.

In this way, Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District has agreed to waive the fee for a licence to place tables and chairs in the public domain.

Businesses will still be required to make an application for a licence but provided it can be safely accommodated, the application will be looked upon favourably and for the remainder of the year there will be no fees for these licences as a once off measure. Businesses wishing to explore this option should contact Mary Kinsella on 053 9483808 or mary.kinsella@wexfordcoco. ie as soon as possible.

Fiona Lewis of Wexford Chamber said that businesses want to make shopping as pleasant an experience as possible.

‘We have a common goal of making Gorey a safe place to do business, and it’s still a short term plan as an immediate response to the situation we find ourselves in. We put forward a number of proposals which were mostly agreeable and there are immediate things that can be done but others need to be thrashed out. One thing we would suggest is more seating to be provided around the town,’ she said.

Councillor Joe Sullivan described the latest meeting as constructive, and agreed that street furniture must be erected to keep people interested in staying for a length of time while they are shopping.