Elimination of businesses rates needed to regenerate town centres – Gallagher

A first-time, Fine Gael Local election candidate has called for the elimination of business rates for new enterprises, for five years, to regenerate town centres. 

Speaking to the Mayo News, Ballyhaunis-based, Alma Gallagher, said that towns like Ballyhaunis, where she is based, are dying, because it is too costly to establish a new business. 

“The risk is,” Ms Gallagher said, “that town centres will decline further or become mainly residential, limiting the potential for business regeneration.”

Ms Gallagher pointed to the Town-Centre First Initiative as a help in regeneration, but fears it won’t be enough.

“The Town Centre First Policy was launched two years ago,” she said. “It is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. The policy was jointly created by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In February it was announced that Ballyhaunis is on the list of towns selected for the plan. 

“It’s a council-led initiative, where all the stakeholders in towns get together to address dereliction and vacancy and it is all about renewal and regeneration. I think it is very appropriate for Ballyhaunis because it is the most diverse town in Ireland. Wages are very low in Ballyhaunis. We are an industrious town with the meat factories and engineering, and the disposable income in the town is very, very low.”  

Ms Gallagher says the big issue for business investment in the town is rates. 

“Rates are prohibitive for start-ups,” she said. “If we are serious about renewal of the town centres, we need some sort of incentive to get businesses to come in. I am proposing a five-year waiver of rates on new businesses opening in towns like Ballyhaunis. Many of the derelict business premises in these towns have been purchased and will be developed for residential occupancy. We have a transient population in the town, keeping the factories going.  The need is for a mixture of one and two bedroom apartments, and I understand that. The fear is that the town will become residential with no opportunities for commercial activity. I believe that it is within the power of the council to eliminate rates for start-ups. 

“With the Town Centre First Initiative, the first step is to develop a business plan, where all the stakeholders come together. New businesses need support in the early years to get established and I believe that this is the best way to do it.”