Businesses in Dún Laoghaire have voted in favour of a controversial new plan to boost trade in the struggling seaside town.
The Business Improvement District (BID) scheme would see Dún Laoghaire businesses form a limited company, funded by themselves, to manage the town’s commercial affairs.
The proposal was passed today by 215 votes to 178. There was a turnout of 49 per cent. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown county councillors are expected to consider the scheme at a meeting on March 10th, at which they can choose to accept or reject the proposal.
The scheme has been the subject of much debate and divided businesses in the town as traders will be required to pay a membership fee in order to fund projects. Over the next 5 years however, it is estimated the scheme will yield almost €1.6 Million of additional investment.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Independent councillor Victor Boyhan said the turnout reflected a lack of certainty among businesses about the proposal. “The result clearly indicates that the majority of retailers and businesses in the town were neither convinced nor sufficiently motivated to come out and vote in favour of the proposal,” he said.
Dún Laoghaire Business Association chair Don McManus said he was looking forward to working with traders in order to boost the local economy. “The major objection from the no side was the cost to business, which we completely understand at a time when all businesses are stretched,” he said.
“Some 70 per cent of businesses will be paying less than €200 per annum and we are confident that through initiatives such as collective bargaining, the benefits and savings will far outweigh the costs.
“We look forward to working closely together with all of the businesses in the area to boost their business. Something drastic needed to be done to re-establish Dún Laoghaire as a booming economy.
“Dún Laoghaire was badly hit by the economic downturn, with many small family businesses forced to close shop. We now have the tools and resources to start this transformation with immediate effect.”
