Traders seeking £10,000 initiative

Traders seeking £10,000 initiative

30 April 2014

A CRUCIAL meeting takes place in Downpatrick early this evening aimed at securing additional Down Council cash to fund a summer entertainment programme in the town.

Downpatrick Chamber of Commerce is keen to organise a number of activities at St. Patrick’s Square, but is unhappy the local authority is only prepared to offer £1,000 in financial assistance and administrative support from Down Arts Centre staff.

Chamber officials estimate they require ten times that amount and hope the cash 

they require will not only be made available now, but built into the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s annual budget when it comes into being next year.

The business organisation is planning to provide a range of activities every Saturday designed to encourage more visitors to the town, but members are unhappy with the council’s cash offer.

Ahead of tonight’s meeting with council officials at the St. Patrick Centre, which starts at 5.30pm, Chamber president, Gary Flynn, has appealed to local politicians to help Downpatrick traders secure more money.

Mr. Flynn hopes tonight’s meeting will persuade Down Council to change its decision, explaining Chamber members require £10,000 to fund the new summer programme and help rejuvenate the town centre at weekends.

The chamber president said while the local authority thinks Newcastle should get the bulk of funding for summer entertainment, “Downpatrick deserves its share of the cake.”

He continued: “There is an unfair bias towards Newcastle in my opinion and the Chamber of Commerce is not willing to accept this.

“We hope local politicians will sit in on this evening’s meeting and help the Chamber of Commerce achieve what the town deserves. Down Council has  been very supportive towards our organisation so far. With the help of our councillors I am sure we can achieve even more.”

Mr. Flynn hopes traders will also support tonight’s meeting and that Down Council will be prepared to provide the £10,000 the Chamber requires.

“The £1,000 we have been offered is simply not enough. It would seem that Downpatrick is viewed as the poor relation when it comes to handing out money. What we are proposing is designed to bring more visitors to Downpatrick and boost the town’s profile,” he continued.

Mr. Flynn said providing street entertainment on Saturdays was one of a number of ideas which came out of a recent brainstorming session which Down Council financed.

“A report published after the session highlighted action is needed to safeguard the future of the town centre. We all recognise this, yet we have only been offered £1,000 to help organise a quality entertainment programme.

“We need in the region of £10,000 and we hope the cash will be forthcoming, with the help of our elected representatives.”