Group aims to pick Athenry up from its knees

Athenry is a town on its economic knees, with hundreds leaving every week to do their shopping elsewhere, due to parking charges and a lack of choice – a recent objection to a new supermarket has further hindered progress, a new community group has claimed.

Although Athenry Revival Group is only a few months old, it already has over 2,500 followers on Facebook.

“Athenry has a population of c. 3,850, and has only one large supermarket – Oranmore has a population of c. 4,600 and has five major supermarkets,” says Sara Walls.

“Athenry used to be an incredibly vibrant town, the recession has had a huge effect on it, and we aren’t going to come out of it unless we get a massive boost. We need to sit up and shout, and make a fuss. People are apathetic – so was I.

“I look out the window and wonder where are all the people – it used to be buzzing. It is sad to see that people don’t come in unless they really have to, because of the parking.”

Initially, it was the objection by RGDATA (Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association) to proposed developments by Lidl/Aldi that bonded locals – an application that is now in the hands of An Bord Pleanala – but their focus has since extended much wider, to include safety at schools and parking problems.

“Hundreds are leaving this town every week – almost all of our members leave town to do the shopping … It’s a disgrace that RGDATA should be allowed to ‘blanket-block’ the competition,” Ms Walls, a sole trader, added.

“I said that if there were any objections, I would object to the objections.

“RGDATA objected – I did a background search, and in the last four-five years they have objected to 70-plus planning applications by Aldi/Lidl in Ireland. Of those, around half didn’t succeed because of RGDATA.

“I’ve made representations to Senator Lorraine Higgins, that they are using the planning process to block competition. I felt it was wrong; she is going to ask the question in the Seanad.

“We don’t want to be dictated to by this group, who know nothing about our town. This big organisation is telling the people of Athenry what we should want and need.”

Athenry Revival Group also believes that the paid parking system has destroyed the town, and they have approached Galway County Council asking for the restrictions to be eased.

“A city like Galway needs parking controls, Athenry needs restrictions but we need free two-hour slots, so you can nip in and out.

“It’s destroying our town, it is driving people out – they go out of town to the supermarket. It is destroying us socially too. I want this Lidl/Aldi business – I’ll close down if they don’t come – people don’t stop because of the meter. The town is empty and dead…”

The group says that with the footfall down in the town, the income from Council-run car parks must also be suffering.

Ms Walls says that in 2012-13 Galway County Council lost €152,000 running the car parks in the county.

“It makes no sense,” she says.

“The Council will probably turn around and tell us that they can’t give us free parking because they can’t lose revenue – but we aren’t going to take no for an answer.

“We have given a list to local councillors – this is what we need to do with parking – but the council are inclined to ignore us.

“We have written to the mayor [Cathaoirleach] to say they are being paid to do a job, that they should read their emails, and respond, but some don’t even bother.”

The community group is also concerned with parking of a different type at the town’s schools.

“All four school sites are incredibly dangerous,” Ms Walls says.

“The Gaelscoil is beyond dangerous, I set up a group to monitor parking in the mornings.

“At the Vocational School, Presentation, and Croí Naofa, over a 45 minute period, 43 buses arrive in that tiny area every morning.”

She says that the Council’s response is that it will take a while to read their list of concerns, but even when they do, they will not have the money to address concerns.

Athenry Revival Group also wants to revitalise the tourist industry in the town, by making the heritage town and its castle a ‘must see’ for any visitor coming to Galway.