Renua Ireland leader John Leahy has expressed his concern over the closure of high profile businesses on the Main Street of Portlaoise.
Mr Leahy said, ‘‘The unfortunate closure of the well respected Miller’s Hardware Store, following on from other closures earlier this year is symptomatic of how so many ‘Main Streets’ in Ireland are failing to thrive.
“These companies have deep footprints in the history of Portlaoise which makes their departure all the more serious.
“This government and more seriously still our councils do not appear to realise that a town without a Main Street is a ghost town.
“Outside of lost jobs and lost footfall, shuttered shops and closed gates are hugely damaging to the morale of a community’’.
Mr Leahy said that as a matter of urgency central and local government must develop a plan to save and develop the rural High Street in the following areas;
Practical proposals on planning and parking.
“The conversion of vacant commercial premises in towns and villages to residential accommodation in order to revitalise town centres and utilise available buildings.”
Creating spaces for artisan producers.
“Real LEADER funding to empower traders to revitalise the main street in terms of Wi-Fi provision and the creation of well maintained attractive public spaces
Imaginative infrastructural development centred on providing facilities for the public and tourism
A greater Garda presence to ensure town centres are perceived to be safe and secure.’’
Mr Leahy added: ‘‘The main street is that part of a county or city which washes its face in public.
“Ireland’s small businesses have shown unique resilience in surviving the recession and the growth of out-of-town shopping.
“They now require a hand-up into a better future led by local and national governments centred on the need to bring life back to our rural main streets through a robust, transparent and credible urban renewal initiative in the forthcoming Budget.”
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