Council dismiss call for a rates discount for businesses affected by Navan 2030 works

As work continues on the Navan 2030 scheme, a call for a rates discount for businesses affected by the works was made at last week's meeting of Navan Municipal Council.

Cllr Linda Nelson Murray called for temporary rates discounts to businesses adversely affected by major roadworks and lack of car park spaces, such as the businesses Old Cornmarket and on Trimgate Street.

She also called for a temporary management system for the Fair Green trader stalls while the works are happening at the Fair Green, to ensure that not more car park spaces than necessary are being taken up during this phase of roadwork.

Cllr Nelson Murray spoke about the frustration expressed at a recent meeting of retailers, at the closure of large parts of the Faigreen ahead of the Christmas season.

“Businesses in Navan are seriously concerned about parking spaces in the town. We are coming up to our busiest time of the year with Christmas on the way, and will be asking shoppers to shop local, but many won’t be able to park in Navan unless extra spaces are provided urgently.

“Businesses already have to cope with the increased cost of doing business. They really don’t need to add parking to the list of pressures they are under," she said.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said the cost of doing business has gone through the roof with high fuel costs, rates and even the increase in the minimum wage has a knock on effect on other wages.

Cllr Alan Lawes said that we have the highest fuel costs in Europe and if we really want to help businesses, the taxes on fuel should be reduced.

"If Cllr Nelson Murray and Cllr Fitzsimons parties reduced taxes, it would put money in peoples pockets. Reducing rates would take money out of the community," he said.

The meeting was told the levying and collection of commercial rates by Local Authorities is legislated for under the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019, and the council is obliged by law to collect commercial rates. There is no provision to provide a commercial rates waiver for businesses affected by roadworks projects.

The council notes that car parking is restricted in the Fairgreen car park on Fridays in order to facilitate the regular Friday market trading activity, and the safe entry/exit of the traders’ vehicles (some being Heavy Goods Vehicles requiring space for egress during the day) in addition to the installation of temporary market stalls. Vehicle movements in the area are restricted during the day in this area on safety grounds, as pedestrian activity in this area is increased during the market activity in the Fairgreen.

The Council will continue to keep the size of the restricted area under review, with a view to minimising the area to correspond with the number of traders on a given Market day. It is envisaged that, as the winter months approach, the level of market trading activity in the Fairgreen will naturally decline, and opportunity will arise to increase the area available for paid parking. The Council is continuing to liaise with the Contractor, the Fairgreen Market Traders, and the Irish Organisation for Market and Street Traders (IMOST) in relation to this matter.