It’s 50/50 call on closure for Design Gallery’s Lelia
LELIA Doolan who has operated the Design Gallery at the side of Laurence’s Gate for 14 years knows too well the perils of the location, but also the fact that it is significant entry point to the town.
‘It is a real 50/50 situation. If it is closed, they should do something with the area around it, because it is a beautiful feature and people are always up taking pictures of it.
‘I had an archaeologist in with me recently and they couldn’t believe that cars were going under it.’
That said, she sees the amount of traffic passing through all day. ‘I don’t know where the traffic will go,’ she states. She admits she’s always anxious about customers walking out of the shop and being unaware of the busy corner in front of them.
‘ The pedestrian crossing where it is is not a good idea and the road needs some kind of a ramp to slow cars down.
‘I have seen so many accidents about to happen, in ways it’s a crazy area.’
She does get customers who come under the gate and pull in to collect items and wonders what would they do if it closes for good.
‘I think to close it is the right thing to do, but there are pros and cons. With the Fleadh coming, it would be great to have a plaza around it.’
She does feel the local residents are an important factor in it, especially on the Chord Road.