Traders urged to support new business forum plan

Traders urged to support new business forum plan

21 October 2015

BUSINESS owners in Downpatrick are being encouraged to throw their weight behind a new forum to provide them with a voice on the future development of the town.

Every business has been contacted for its support, with traders keen to see the new group established as quickly as possible and having a key input into proposals which have been drawn up to address the town’s congestion problems.

Tailbacks are stifling the town’s economy and traders are keen to speak with senior roads officials at next week’s public consultation event in the Down Arts Centre where the various schemes will be on display.

The commitment to form a new traders’ group was discussed at a business breakfast in Downpatrick last Friday morning which was organised by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie. Also taking part were guest speakers Glyn Roberts, the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retailers’ Association and Newry, Mourne and Down Council chief executive, Liam Hannaway.

The business breakfast is the first in a series the MP is organising for traders in various parts of the town and she hopes to have a meeting with all business owners in December.

Miss Ritchie organised last Friday’s meeting to provide the business community with an opportunity discuss the imminent consultation on the new roads layout for Downpatrick town centre and town centre initiatives that will attract more shoppers to the town, boosting trade.

Miss Ritchie said Downpatrick is a pivotal centre for retail and business regeneration, key areas which need to be developed.

“To galvanise opportunities for investment for the town we need to examine a holistic approach to regeneration of the local economy which involves examining the roads proposals for the transportation study from Transport NI,” she continued.

“Such an opportunity was provided through the Department of Social Development’s master plan for Downpatrick published some years ago which now needs to be taken forward by Newry, Mourne and Down Council.”

The MP said tourism, in particular, Christian and Patrician heritage opportunities, need to be galvanised to underpin the visitor economy, explaining that  for every pound invested in heritage, there is a £6 economic return for the local area.

She continued:”It is vital, particularly as we approach the upcoming consultation on the new proposed road layout plans by Transport NI for Downpatrick, that traders become directly involved in thinking about, commenting on and offering the best possible traffic and business solutions for their town. 

“The opportunity to do that will take place at the Transport NI’s consultation which will run from the October 29 until November 12 in Down Arts Centre. Undoubtedly, orderly progression of traffic will contribute to stimulating the local economy.”

Miss Ritchie also wants Transport NI to consider how Asda and the Downe Retail Park at the Ballydugan Road can be linked to Market Street and the town centre.

She added: “We had a very informative debate around possible traffic and on-street and off-street parking provisions for the town centre during last Friday’s meeting.  We also discussed how the new council will have increased powers in relation to town centre development. Reference was also made to the recent planning policy statement from the Environment Minister which gave centre stage to town centre regeneration. 

“Throughout all of the discussion traders agreed they needed to ensure their voice is heard and their views taken on board. The best way for them to champion Downpatrick in conjunction with statutory and outside bodies is to ensure their voice is articulated through a forum.”