TOWN NEEDS TO KEEP ITS SHOPPERS – O’DONOVAN
Mayor of Fermoy Tadhg O’Donovan has offered a counterpoint to last week’s opinion piece on the need for a shopping centre in the town in a statement to The Avondhu this week.
The Mayor of Fermoy Cllr Tadhg O’Donovan said contrary to reports that Fermoy is over shopped; he would be the first to acknowledge that the street corner shops will not meet the demand of Fermoy town retail sectors going forward.
O’Donovan said the priority for Fermoy is to develop a retail sector in the town that will serve a substantial catchment area taking the shoppers from Mahon Point, Midleton, Mallow and Mitchelstown who are by passing our town at the moment.
“This is why if Fermoy is to realise its economic and social potential, the €100million investment by the Shipton Group on the old mart site is crucial to the future of our town.”
The Mayor said what is vital to Fermoy are major retail chain operators, who can create a worthwhile retail sector in Fermoy.
“The 3,000 signatures taken up in support of the Shipton development, confirms the massive desire within our community to expand the retail sector, creating hundreds of badly needed jobs in our town while giving consumers the opportunity to support local businesses in the knowledge of securing competitive prices, convenience, location and additional choice that is, at present, taking many of our shoppers out of town.
“The essence of commerce is based on the principle of supply and demand. If we continue to ignore this principle with the present siege mentality, all we are doing is allowing out opportunities diminish,” O’Donovan concluded.
Published:
Thursday 4th June 7:26pm
