Landlords urged to waive rents in Belturbet

There are no less than 25 vacant shops units in Belturbet many of which have fallen into a dilapidated state, the town council heard at their monthly meeting. The figures were revealed by independent councillor, Tony Gorby who urges landlords to take radical action to encourage new tenants to occupy them. He identified two premises in Kilconny, eight in the Lawn and Bridge Street, two in Main Street, three in Holborn Hill, two in the Shopping Centre, three in the new apartment blocks in Castle Hill and five in the new apartments at Railway road. Mr Gorby said some of the premises were beginning to look dilapidated as they have been vacant for over two years and nothing has been done. "I am calling here tonight for the landlords to consider freezing the rent for six months, so that we can endeavour to get someone into them. This situation just can't be allowed to go in one of the main towns in the County." Cllr Raymond Johnston said it was his understanding that this initiative was going to be piloted in Cavan town. Cllr Barry Wilson asked if it would not be possible to waive the rates, which are currently not being collected in any event in these empty premises, for a period of two years. He suggested that small businesses should be attracted into the units. Director of services, Kevin O'Reilly, pointed out that the County Council has very little discretion when it comes to collecting rates, apart from the obvious issue of maximising finance. He also said that if a new competing business, which was not being asked to pay rates opens up against a similar existing business that is paying rates, this would be seen as inequitable. He told Cllr John McDonald that the onus is on the local authority to seek valuations, but a lot of the premises would already be valued. The council sends forward the details in relation to new premises to the valuation office. Cllr Tony Gorby said it "is our job to achieve something for this town and attract some type of businesses to those vacant units". The chairman Seamus Fitzpatrick said there were a number of positive initiatives happening at present, particularly in relation to getting a library and resource centre in the town hall, and moves are under way to get the Castlesaunderson Scouting Project back on track. "We should be balanced and say that there are positive things going on," said Cllr Fitzpatrick. "Cavan County Council are facilitating us on a number of projects in every way possible". A number of obstacles are in the way of would-be entrepreneurs from taking up the vacant premises, according to Cllr Paddy Brady. "There are talented people in the town that could start businesses," he said, "but it is the rates, the rent and the insurance that is actually stopping them from starting up a business. If one person in business employs another person, this can start the ball rolling and the momentum can build". He suggested that if some of the units in the town was subdivided and give people encouragement to use them, progress could be made. "There are people who are qualified in different fields in Belturbet. They currently don't have the premises and the resources to start out on their own. They need a leg up and I can guarantee you if only five people went into a small unit next week, the following month that number could be doubled." Barry Wilson said if there was to be a rates waiver for a duration, the suggestion had been forwarded to him that it be limited to manufacturing business. He said it was the small SME sector that was going to provide the employment of the future. John McDonald suggested the town could follow the example of the 'SHED' scheme based in Co Meath, which recently picked up a major award for social entrepreneurship. It involves individuals with expertise giving their free time over to teach skills to budding entrepreneurs, and from modest beginnings, the project soon mushroomed. Chairman Seamus Fitzpatrick said the profitability of businesses at present as a result of rates, VAT, PRSI, insurance, lighting and heating, telephone bills and much more is severely dented. "When you see businesses closing that have been open in a town for a generation, because they are not viable, you are up against it to start a new business."