Encourage shop local as much as possible - Wallace

Shops and businesses are coming under pressure to keep their doors open and initiatives such as free parking days and festivals should be taken to help them, suggested Cllr Emily Wallace at the January meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

She spoke of the need for people to shop local to ensure the future of towns and villages. It is about getting people to spend locally, she said. When clubs are looking for sponsorship or students are looking for work experience, it is local businesses that provide them, as well as employing local tradesmen, Cllr Wallace remarked.

“We saw in the fleadh what can be done and we should be working with street groups and the Mullingar Chamber of Commerce to have street festivals,” Cllr Ken Glynn suggested.

He said it was great to see the WinterFest in Mount Street before Christmas and urged that festivals like that be held in every street, showcasing what they have to offer.

Cllr Denis Leonard felt there should be a shop local initiative in every town and village, while Cllr Andrew Duncan said it would be a shame to let the impetus slow down when there are the people there to make it happen.

The biggest obstacle to shop local is online shopping, Cllr Mick Dollard said. He believes it poses a major threat to towns and villages. People order online and, a day or two later, it is delivered to them, he remarked.

Cllr Hazel Smyth suggested that businesses that let the public use their toilets should get a cut in their rates, in a bid to ensure shop local. She also suggested that the council should provide more spaces in towns and villages for farmers markets and local producers wishing to sell locally. She encouraged those interested in getting involved in the chamber of commerce to do so, come together and brainstorm.

Mullingar is a great town, a good shopping town that has everything and we have to look after it, declared Cllr Bill Collentine.

The meeting was assured that the council regularly engages with Mullingar Chamber of Commerce to support their initiatives. They are fully supportive of the shop local initiatives and will continue to engage with the chamber to maximise this across the district.

At the same meeting, Cllr Wallace asked that the council add the Farthingstown Road, Rochfortbridge, to its resurfacing programme. She was assured that this road will be considered in the estimates.