Calls for community shop in Limerick village

VILLAGES like Tournafulla, which have no shops should be allowed to open community shops rate free, according to Cllr Liam Galvin.

Commercial rates are charged on commercial properties such as shops, offices,  hotels, and licensed premises but Cllr Galwin was an exemption for community shops.

He believes that in small communities such as Tournafulla, these rates should be scrapped if there are currently no shops in the area. 

The Fine Gael councillor is working with the Tournafulla Community Council in order to open the community run shop in Tournafulla and has allocated €4,000 of his General Municipal Allowance

“I have brought a motion to the council to try and allow a shop to be opened in Tournafulla, and the rates to be waived. This is so the community can run a shop in the village rather than having  to travel to the nearest town,” said Galvin.

Cllr Galvin stressed that this would only work if there are no shops in the area.

“We could only do this if it would be the only shop in the area. If there were other shops, it wouldn’t be fair as one shop would be paying rates and the other wouldn’t. This would only work in areas like Tournafulla, where there are no shops,” Cllr Galvin added.