Parking bays to be used for social spaces

Many hospitality businesses across County Cavan may have carparking spaces converted into outdoor spaces to cater for customers in a move to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19.

Applied across the county, the measure to facilitate outdoor hospitality has the potential to see a significant change in streetscape usage in the coming weeks.

The Additional Outdoor Infrastructure Fund organised by Cavan County Council is separate to, but complimentary to the much-publicised Outdoor Dining Grant Scheme run by Bord Fáilte. Traditional bars would be able to avail of the infrastructure fund but, unless they serve food, are currently omitted from the dining scheme.

Any alteration in parking bays would be undertaken entirely voluntarily. It would see the installation of a basic paved platform, with the onus on the business owner to provide tables, seating and enhance the aesthetics. The number of parking bays changed will vary on a case-by-case basis, and will only happen with consent of the proprietors.

It’s envisaged that reinstatement of the parking spaces could be achieved in a matter of hours if required.

The scheme would have limited scope in Virginia where a major public realm scheme is already underway. It’s believed that a space at the Lee Bridge at the eastern end of Virginia’s Main Street may be suitable for a coffee dock and public benches.

It’s understood that a series of whistle-stop meetings between council officials and potential businesses to gauge interest in the plans have been taking place in recent weeks. Due to the quick turnaround, the closing date for applying to the fund is Monday, May 10.

Frustrated publicans

Meanwhile, with the June 7 date for the opening of hospitality sector for operating outdoors, the chair of the local vintners group has spoke of publicans’ frustration at the lack of detail for the plans.

Fergus Murphy, the proprietor of the Derragarra is the chairman of Cavan Vintners.

Observing the experiences in the North, he can see similar problems replicated in the south:

“Half of them can’t even open – they need outdoor toilets and other stuff. They got their details at the last minute.

“They might have given us a date, but there’s still no roadmap,” Fergus Murphy says.

“What’s the guideline? Fáilte Ireland need to come quick with them! After this much time, you would think they would have the guidelines already there in stone.”

While noting that he’s lucky with his outdoor area at the Butlersbridge landmark, it won’t suit many publicans in Cavan.

“They are saying in Ireland just 20% of pubs/restaurants will have the facilities to open.”

He further stressed that the VAT must stay at nine per cent for years to come, “if not lowered”.