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Policing improving but streets are still dirty, says city centre businessman
GARDAÍ have made a massive effort to improve city policing over the past week, with the establishment of a new "Business Watch" scheme, according to the Chairman of the Roches Street Traders Association.
But chairman Michael Murphy, representing over 50 city traders, said that dirty streets and high commercial rates still remain serious problems for Limerick business owners and "the vibes were not good" from Thursday's meeting with city council members.
"I told city officials that Roches Street has not been swept since Christmas. The city will be the same as Southill in 12 months if they don't wake up," he said.
Mr Murphy was critical of a lack of accountability by the Corporation to rate payers, but was full of praise for Garda, who he claims have listened to recent criticism and acted with a positive response.
"We complained to the Garda last week that city policing was poor. Since then we have been inundated with requests from Garda asking what they can do to improve things. They sent us all out a questionnaire asking: What can we do for your business?" he said.
Under the newly-resurrected "Business Watch" scheme, Garda now have all the necessary information on city traders stored on computer to react more quickly.
"Now police are back on the beat and community police officers have introduced themselves to us. City policing seems to be back on-stream," Mr Murphy added.
In contrast, Mr Murphy felt that Limerick City Council were still not listening to traders' legitimate requests for action to be taken on rates, parking and litter.
"One city official told us we shouldn't go crying to the press. But we are trying to air these issues so they can be fixed. The Corporation are not to blame for all of it. I know they love Limerick too. But the system seems to be at fault," he said.
"They don't seem to think that the decline in footfall in Limerick city has anything to do with them. But we want to know what we're paying our rates for. We pay massive rates every year and yet they are not accountable to us," he added.
Mr Murphy said there has to be a way to get Limerick off the bottom of the dirtiest cities in Ireland list.
"I was standing here on Roches Street this morning waiting for cleaners and nobody came. It's not just the footpath, which we sweep ourselves, it's the actual street. Street cleaning is non-existent," he added.
Mr Murphy is currently negotiating a joint venture with Environmental Superintendent Brian Kelly so that city traders would join forces with Limerick City Council in keeping the streets clean.
When asked by the Limerick Leader if any progress had been made at Thursday's meeting, city manager Tom Mackey said he had no comment to make at this time.
"We had very good discussions at the meeting, aired all the issues and agreed to work jointly with traders on the city's problems. We are working our way through all the issues brought to our attention and will meet again in the next three to four weeks,” he added.
On the issue of commercial rates, Mr Mackey said that business owners have a statutory requirement to pay them.
“But if someone is in genuine difficulty, they can sit down with us and we will listen to them,” he added.
Mr Murphy said: “The Corporation says they cannot do anything about the rates, but they can do something about parking and litter.
“We have been meeting members of Limerick city council since last November. We need reform. If they can’t fix it, someone needs to.”
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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