Cllr Enright with Market Street shop owners,
Cllr Cadogan Enright of Green Party has welcomed the news that his campaign to have two-way traffic reinstated early in Downpatrick will succeed next Wednesday on the 1st September. Cllr Enright said “Traders were delighted with the news that normal traffic will resume next Wednesday.”
Cadogan Enright said “It was crucial that this was done before schools resume, as it has been taking 30 minutes to get from the Belfast roundabout to the Bus station, and there would be gridlock had school traffic been added as well. The reopening date of mid to late September was totally unrealistic.”
“There was no reason to have the one way system in Downpatrick at all during August, and much trade was lost as a result, with Downpatrick people and visitors alike stuck in the one-way system. With many people choosing not to come into the town, getting the town open again was vital and turned out to be simply a matter of prioritizing the paving work in the area between the Ulster Bank and Northern bank as we have been saying for several weeks ”, Said Cllr Enright.
Business Forum chairman Patrick Cassidy said that “business has been severely impaired but we are looking forward to normal business and are talking to the Council about promoting the town as being ‘back in business’ and get people back in to the habit of shopping in Downpatrick. This allied to the face-lift of the town hopefully will give us all a boost moving forward.”.
Business Forum secretary Tracy Quail said the disruption had been going on too long, and that she and other traders were delighted that their point of view about the need to prioritize the work properly had been taken on board and that as a result Normal business could now resume.
“I was disappointed at the lack of support we received from other councilors at last Monday nights council meeting, but pleased that council management, and especially Chief Executive John Dumigan has listened to local traders and intervened to ensure that we don’t have gridlock when schools resume. This will be a huge relief to everyone living or working in the Downpatrick area”, Concluded Green Party Cllr Cadogan Enright
“ENRIGHT CLAIMS VICTORY IN BATTLE TO RESTORE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO DOWNPATRICK TOWN CENTRE”
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TWO WAY TRAFFIC TO RETURN TO TOWN
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Following the reopening of Market Street, the Chair of the Down Business Forum, Patrick Cassidy, wrote: “I also would like to personally thank Cllr Cadogan Enright for all his help and hard work in supporting all the traders of the town.”
To read the full letter click here
During the campaign to have Market Street reopened, the Green Party produced a leaflet to update the local traders on progress. To view the leaflet click here:
Green Party for local traders in Market street
COUNCILLORS ROW OVER RATES REBATE MOTION
Cllr Cadogan Enright was coldly received by other councillors after proposing a motion which sought council support for traders seeking a rebate through the hardship relief scheme.
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To read the second part of the article click here
In August 2010, the Green Party joined traders in calling for an end to the trafic mayhem caused by the one-way system on Market Street which was having an adverse affect on their businesses.
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TRADERS MAY GET COMPENSATION OVER STREET WORK
In July 2010, Cllr Enright proposed that businesses suffering a major downturn in trade as a result of the streetscape scheme could be entitled to compensation.
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