Town works have to stop for Christmas rush

Work on the multi-million euro facelift to Tullamore's town centre has to be suspended for the Christmas shopping season to give retailers a chance to recoup revenue lost since the project began in January.

That's according to Cllr Sean O'Brien, who last month called for the establishment of a task force to revive Tullamore's economic fortunes, says that businesses are becoming increasingly frustrated by slow rate of progress on the town enhancement scheme. Cllr O'Brien called for the suspension of the town works at this afternoon's meeting of Tullamore Municipal District.

"At the September Council meeting I stated that there was uproar among the businesses and among the people in the town about the disruption caused by the slow progress of the works.   This has got worse over the past month and I have been approached by a number of local businesses who are suffering a serious decline in business due to the works," outlined Cllr O' Brien

"The progress of the works is very slow. It was suggested at the September Council meeting that the section of William Street from Hayes Cross to the junction with Harbour St. would be completed [before the Christmas shopping season]. There is clearly no chance that this will be done at this stage.”

Businesses need to be given a chance in the run up to Christmas to make up the losses accrued throughout the year, Cllr O'Brien continued.

"Christmas shopping is a vital part of the turnover for all businesses in the town centre.  This usually runs from mid November up to Christmas and there is no way that we can allow the works to disrupt that business. We simply have to take care of our businesses and the local people who want to do their shopping in town. More staff are needed to speed up the works and also longer hours need to be worked , including weekends,” he said.