A major initiative to regenerate the town centre in Tuam is now being discussed following the shocking revelation that almost 50 business premises in the town have either shut down or are empty.
The dozens of boarded-up shops and pubs in the town centre is a major worry for the local Chamber of Commerce which now wants to tackle the problem.
They are now calling on business interests, sporting clubs and all organisations in the town to come together to address this chronic situation.
Findings revealed that there are currently 47 empty retail premises in and around the town centre in Tuam. The past week or so has seen another shop closed – but on the positive side, another opened on a different street.
Tuam Chamber of Commerce said that it was now high time for every organisation in the town to come together to address this situation and put life back into the town centre.
Secretary Ann Coen said that she was shocked by the findings, particularly as Tuam did not have any out-of-town retail parks which are often the cause of town centre economic woes.
She has even suggested that the owners of vacant Tuam business outlets consider reducing their rents or possibly even taking a hit on the rates bill in order to have these premises occupied again.
The survey was conducted by photographer Jacinta Fahy who found three pubs in the town centre no longer in business.
Several women’s clothes shops had also been the victims of the recession.
A number of restaurants had ceased trading along with a couple of charity shops; several Eastern European foodstores have also closed.
This didn’t take into account the fact that there is a hospital and courthouse closed along with an old library which is expected to be occupied by the Department of Social Protection over the coming weeks. There is also a Department of Education office closed.
On foot of the results of the survey Tuam Chamber of Commerce say that they will be initiating contact with all of the organisations in the town to try and find a solution to occupy these business premises.
“We cannot do it on our own,” admitted Secretary Ann Coen.
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