A shocked Mullingar business owner was angered when, without any prior notice, a group of men arrived outside his shop and began excavation work last Saturday morning.
Leo Farrell, owner of The Bike Shop on Millmount Road, said he received no warning that such works were to take place last Saturday, on what was supposed to be one of the busiest days of the year for hard pressed businesses in the run-up to Christmas. The work should have been carried out at night-time, he felt.
“It has been a difficult time for local business with all these road works, but this is just completely unfair on Saturday morning, two weekends before Christmas, when businesses are hoping to be busy. Local businesses should be entitled to some notice – I’ve learned it’s 14 days written notice for works such as this,” he said, as workers proceeded to dig a hole outside the front door of his shop.
The business owner is already challenged with limited parking, and Saturday’s road works meant customers had literally no where to park if they intended calling to his shop. There was a barrier up around a small digger which was being used for the works and people could not even walk up the footpath to Mr Farrell’s shop.
RATE PAYER
“There was no consultation, no contact from anyone. I came in at 8am this morning, potentially one of the busiest days of the year, to find this outside my front door. I may as well close and go home again. I’m a rate payer for 30 years; surely more respect should be afforded?” he declared.
Westmeath County Councillors recently voted for a significant increase in rates, putting further pressure on businesses who have had to cope with major enhancement work throughout the past year.
“Rates have increased by 6% and I doubt very much I’d have any bother proving I should receive compensation for loss of business today. My shop has been effectively shut on a Saturday without any notice. Is this the kind of service we are going to get for a 6% increase?,” remarked Mr Farrell.
He felt carrying out such work on a key day for businesses was unfair and suggested an alternative arrangement should have been found.
“This work should be carried out at night-time when it will not impinge on anyone’s business. There is no one I can contact today, as Westmeath County Council are not working on a Saturday,” he added.
Mr Farrell suggested that there is no joined up thinking when it comes to making decisions to carry out work at such inconvenient times, and the people involved, he said, probably never worked in the private sector.
Topic contacted Westmeath County Council and we were informed that all media queries have to be submitted in writing. No one was available to speak to in relation to the matter. At the time of going to press, we have received no response in relation to our queries.
