In Reply to: Re: Pedestrianise Main Street ? posted by Jimbob on April 04, 2005 at 09:19:57:

Are these the same retailers who thought the Ring Road would take business out of the town and objected to it being built ? The town has blossomed since it's construction (as has the towns of Swinford and Claremorris since they were by-passed / ring-roaded).

Let them fumble in their greasy tills - the town of Castlebar is for the people of Castlebar - not just the retailers.

If retailers feel they'll actively lose business then I'd suggest that they poll their customers to see how they got to their shop, chances are most people have parked in a car park somewhere and walked to the shop, let's face it on busy days there's no way you're going to get parking on Main Street (I'm sure you could get some TY students from the local schools to organise and run such a survey).

I can see that some retailers, like the Chinese take away and Wynne's newsagent rely on passing trade but pedestrianisation does not mean completely cutting off Main Street to vehicles (besides it would have to be accessible for deliveries).

If Grafton and Henry Street in Dublin and Shop Street in Galway can be pedestrianised then so can Main Street Castlebar.

Look at all the whining and moaning they did about Market Square - an excellent civic space and an area that has won awards for it's design and is an area of the town that makes you feel like we're not living in a complete backwater.

More power to anyone that has the initiave to develop this plan.