Enright Calls On Big 4 To Listen To Voice Of Businesses

He added,  “I attended the Kilkeel meeting of the business chambers where Downpatrick, Newcastle, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Newry and Crossmaglen (South Armagh) were also represented. Local business leaders understand the link between sustainable locally-owned businesses creating employment and the way in which local politicians can choose to follow policies that foster that local employment. Our SME’s know what they are talking about and have a ‘Green Vision’ for South Down. The ‘big 4’ parties need to start listening.” [caption id="attachment_23141" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Green Party Assembly Candidate Councillor Cadogan Enright with Downpatrick traders Patrick Cassidy and Colman Magennis support the South Down forum for the Chambers of Commerce's call for control on out-of-town and edge-of-town shopping centres."][/caption] “The Chambers represent 610 businesses across South Down. They see tourism as a sector that can deliver short and long term returns to the local economy. They want the boost that could come  from a National Park now – however, the big 4 parties have avoided this issue. 2012 is expected to be a major year for tourism in N.Ireland. But unfortunately many businesses dependent on tourism will quite simply close down before they reap any benefits,” said Green MLA candidate Cadogan Enright. “The Chambers rightly oppose out-of-town and edge-of-town development by major out of state retailers. This reduces footfall from town centres and adds to traffic congestion. Out of state retailers provide low-paid jobs and leak major revenue out of Northern Ireland. Politicians from the big 4 parties love cutting the ribbon on ‘out of town’ developments that cut the throat of local sustainable businesses.” Councillor  Enright further attacked the record of the big 4 saying,  “Since the last elections in 2007 the big 4 parties have failed to deliver cheap locally produced renewable energy. Instead they send our money to Gaddafi in Libya and Vladimir Putin in Russia while the cost of oil damages local business by affecting the cost of products, running costs and transport. This key factor contributed to the Toughglass factory closure in Kilkeel this month. The six chambers rightly highlight the need to tackle fuel costs as a priority”. “If elected on 5^th May I will tackle these issues and other points identified by the Chambers such as  bus connections to Dublin Airport, local infrastructure, parking costs and bank lending”, added Councillor Cadogan Enright. Green politics is really common sense. It is the best way to work for a better future.” The South Down Joint Chamber of Commerce Makes Urgent Plea To All Politicians (Forum members are from Downpatrick, Newcastle, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Newry and Crossmaglen.) The South Down business chambers have been meeting for a year to work together to tackle issues of common concern and opportunity, and now on the eve of the Assembly and Local Government elections, they have made an urgent plea to all the politicians and parties. The following issues have been identified as requiring urgent attention from our Down district and Newry and Mourne Councils, government agencies, the NI Assembly, the North-South Ministerial Council and the Westminster Parliament Pat Cassidy, Downpatrick Busniess Forum Chairman said, “Collectively we account for over 610 businesses who contribute to local rates, employ local people, serve our local communities and generate tax and revenue to the Northern Ireland economy. “We have come together to try to address the following key issues and seek your support in addressing them. Local businesses are at breaking point and we expect your urgent support and action.” 1. Town/City Centre Survival – URGENT Planning Issues Out-of-town and edge-of-town major retail development significantly reduces footfall from town centres and adds to significant traffic congestion. Out of state retailers provide low paid jobs but are also a major leakage of revenue out of Northern Ireland. We oppose this. 2. Need for Tourism Boost – Mourne Mountains National Park Status! Tourism has been identified as a sector that can deliver short and long term returns. Therefore, we need to see the Mournes and Slieve Gullion areas being promoted and marketed to maximise visitors to this area in the next few months. 2012 is being heralded as the major year for tourism in N.Ireland but many tourism businesses will not see the benefits as they will not survive 2011. Delivering primary legislation for a National Park is a priority, followed by making the Mournes Northern Ireland’s first National Park. That the Slieve Gullion area attain “Geo-Park” status within the next 12 months 3. Energy Costs – Fuel Reduction. The increase in fuel costs adversely affects the cost of products, running costs and makes it more expensive for customers to travel to purchase goods. This must be tackled as a priority at Parliament. 4. Lending to Small & Medium Size Businesses Increased Many small businesses cannot access overdraft or loan facilities. If funding is not available many small businesses will go bust or will give up and retire. Dedicated small business funding mechanisms need to put in place soon. 5. Job Creation Increased There is a need for job creation in order that people in the South Down/Armagh area have jobs in order to be able to spend  their incomes in local shops and town centre businesses. With the increase in travel costs, people need more jobs and most important to shop locally. Particular emphasis needs to be placed by Government agencies to assist inward investment into all these areas 6. Infrastructure To encourage inward investment there is a need to have key roads upgraded. These include the Crossmaglen to Newry road , the Dundalk to Armagh road and especially turning the A25 from Downpatrick to Newry into a duel carriageway as the spine running right across South Down. We note that the upgrading of the A7 and the Ballynahinch by-pass are now 30 years late – first promised when Brian Falkner was NI premier. Additional interchanges on the Primary route network.  In particular an interchange is needed on the Dundalk/Armagh road from the M1 to open up the entire South Armagh Region, and access to a Northern or Southern relief road for the A25 to ensure that all of South Downs traffic does not have to pass though Newry. Compared to areas such as Antrim, there is a clear disparity in the provision of Roads in South Down and Armagh. We note with concern that the Newcastle and Downpatrick dedicated bus stop at Dublin Airport closed last year, and that Dublin Airport has approx. 1 million tourists a month with over 100,000 of these from North Amercia. Access for tourists to attractions like ‘St Patricks Trail’ or ‘The Mountains of Mourne’ need to be facilitated by public transport. 7. Signage on national routes To encourage greater visitor numbers, better signage, together with additional “brown” tourism signage is required on the primary routes e.g. M1 Address To The Politicians MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF REAL ACTION AND SOLUTIONS BEING PRESENTED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED URGENTLY. WE SEEK YOUR SUPPORT, ADVICE, HELP AND ACTION IN ADDRESSING THESE 7 KEY AREAS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU WILL DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES ABOVE]]>