The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
High Street traders still disappointed at town changes
DESPITE a meeting between Killarney Municipal District management, representatives from High Street Traders, and some councillors on Thursday morning last, traders say they have been left disappointed.
Proposals were put to council management in a bid to resolve traders’ concerns on High Street, where a public meeting was held last week with up to 25 local traders raising concerns about the new measures implemented in the town and on High Street. The measures are part of the new town safety plans, which the council are obliged to put in place in response to the current Covid-19 pandemic. As part of this plans, spaces have been removed across the town and bollards put in place to create extra pedestrian space.
The traders had drawn up proposals to mitigate the loss of parking and had sought for the Rock Road Car Park to be made free daily to encourage people to park there freeing up others spaces in the town.
High Street is to lose 15 spaces and despite pleas for this to be reduced this will not happen. However, parking will be free at the Rock Road car park from 9am to 12pm daily and extra set-down spaces have been included.
Traders had also sought loading bays in the Glebe Car Park to alleviate concerns about deliveries on High Street, which has also been raised by traders. A request for six large loading bays in the Glebe, which would have led to the loss of some spaces there was also reduced by the council.
Denis Cronin of Cronin’s butchers on High Street said that everyone on High Street is fully committed to a safe town but that they had come up with eight proposals to address concerns raised.
“We did not get the response we desired,”he said. A review of the Safe and Welcoming Streets Covid 19 Town Mobility Plans will be undertaken in September and traders are calling for that review to examine their concerns again.