‘Come on in, we’re open’: Blitz spirit amid Tralee roadworks
THE sound of heavy machinery may be ringing out in Tralee’s main shopping thoroughfare but for many local traders it’s a sound that’s paving the way for a better future.
A ‘ Blitz spirit’ is alive and well among town centre traders who are keen to get one important message out there: “We’re still very much open for business”.
On Monday morning, shoppers weaved their way through a maze of bollards that separated them from workers in hardhats, while music from a nearby tannoy tried to counter the drilling during the heat of a summer’s morning.
But for traders at the front line, it was all about keeping calm and getting the message out there that they’re very much open for business.
In Dan Fitzgerald’s, Maurice Fitzgerald acknowledged the inconvenience but was upbeat about the long term benefits.
“The street has looked run down in recent years and the footpaths are in an awful state. The cobblestones are only set in sand and are bouncing up and down when the street cleaner runs over them. The job is all about progress now and the finished job does look attractive.
“I like the new set up but I would have liked to have seen more set-down areas included,” he added.
“The set-down area is going to be limited. We’re a country town and people still like the idea of being able to park outside for a minute while they buy something. We need convenient spaces,” said Maurice.
Meanwhile, Der O’Sullivan’s bar, restaurant and deli has been part of life in The Mall for over 40 years. “Yes, short term pain might mean long-term gain and we have to move forward as our footpaths are a disgrace. But it’s the plan of attack that concerns me,” said Alan O’Sullivan.
“Take the felling of the trees, they were cut down over-night. They could have been left up over the summer season. Good planning and communication is essential,” he said.
“The traders have a voice and what we’re concerned over is the speed of the works. The street has been inconvenienced for six months - one month with no work going on at all. The council have been in touch to say they will be working ‘ yard by yard’ to avoid the town centre looking like a building site.
“But we need our council to promote the fact that while The Mall may be closed to traffic, it is very much open for business,” he added.
Hugh Culloty said he fears shoppers might overlook The Mall completely due to the ongoing works.
“To be quite honest I saw a need to do the footpaths, but there was nothing wrong with the street in my opinion and it is affecting footfall,” Hugh said.
He added: “The timeframe is also questionable. The long-term damage it will do will be serious. There’s already problems with people bypassing this town and these works could well make that worse. The model layout for the street is ‘one surface’ and I personally think it’s a bad idea.”
A few doors up is Kelly’s Allcare Pharmacy where Niamh Kearney said the works have definitely affected trade.
“Trade is noticeably quieter and Saturday was very quiet, as is today (Monday). You could say that longterm it will be better, but ‘ long-term’ in business can seem very distant.”
Two doors up from Kelly’s is ‘ The Coffee Start’, run by Jaro Luks.
“The work is taking too long in what is a tourist town where lots of businesses rely on people coming into the town centre to shop. Parking is also very important and a car seldom brings just one person to town. My trade has been affected by around 20 per cent since these works started,” said Jaro.
Denny Street is also feeling the effects with both sides of the historic street demarcated with wire fencing and plastic barriers. Dick Boyle of The Grand Hotel is trying to remain upbeat, and while he didn’t want to appear negative about the works, it’s still very frustrating.
“You can see the barriers here in front of the hotel. I don’t mind a bit of disturbance if progress is being made. I don’t want to be negative about it as progress is very important and you’re going to have some disturbance when trying to make things better.
“But the ends must justify the means,” said Dick.
He also cited a lack of parking and a dip in trade as worrying side effects.
“I’m more in hope than confident to be honest. The loss of parking is going to have a major impact.
“Proximity parking is extremely important. The timing is also poor and a project like this in summer is wrong,” said Mr Boyle.
“In the first week of May my trade is down 20 percent,” he told The Kerryman.