Town survival threatened by IDA disinterest

Date Published: 26-Feb-2009

INSUFFICIENT interest by the IDA in Loughrea, combined with crippling commercial rents and rates, parking fees, and petrol prices, are all combining to create a crisis situation for Loughrea – not to mention the critical issue over job creation – a public meeting of business people heard on Monday.
The two and a half hour long gathering was facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce with the purpose of devising a survival plan for the town, which has been badly hit by job losses and business closures in the last few months.
“The emphasis has to be on focussing and retaining existing jobs in the town; in the long term we have to replace the jobs lost, but in the short term the town faces a mountain,” said independent chairman, and local school principal, Frank Burke.