Florence Road traders suspend legal action plan
Traders on Florence Road have suspended their planned legal action, in the hope of finding some resolution to the problem of pedestrian access from the Florentine Centre.
At a meeting of Bray Municipal District two weeks ago, a spokesman for the Florence Road Traders warned the council that they would tie the development up in legal proceedings, and gave officials seven working days to respond.
‘We’re at something of a Mexican standoff,’ said spokesman David Salmon. He said that with Bray Chamber as mediators, a meeting has been planned involving the District Manager Tom Murphy, for a week from today ( Wednesday).
Mr Salmon said that with the development moving at a fast pace, that could be too late as the access point could already have been boarded up.
‘We want resolution, not conflict,’ said Mr Salmon. ‘We had said that legal action would be the absolute last resort.’
He said that while he appproached the Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Pat Vance, and had a very amiable exchange, he is disappointed not to have seen more progress or communication from the council officials.
Mr Salmon has given the council legal information re- garding who they believe the landowner to be. At the previous district meeting, the traders said that the land in question is in fact owned by the Meath estate, and not another owner who had declined to strike a deal.
Mr Salmon said that he has a meeting this week with the land surveyor of the person he believes to be the owner.
‘Without conversation, there can’t be resolution,’ said Mr Salmon, who homes that a solution to the problem can be found, with meaningful com- munication.
‘We haven’t proceeded with legal action, much to the chagrin of our legal advisers,’ said Mr Salmon. ‘We have to think about the other traders and the good of the town.’ He added that delaying the development, by nine months at the very least, would be as good as the Florence Road traders cutting their own throats.h
The District Manageer said at the previous meeting that council officials would investigate the ownership of the proposed access area, which is to the rear of Bray’s Main Street shops.
Members also heard previously that the developers have ruled out alternative pedestrian access areas at the vehicular or goods entrances, due to health and safety considerations.