This article is from page 12 of the 2006-01-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
THE Chamber of Commerce in Ennis has expressed concern that a number of prominent premises at the heart of the town centre are vacant and retailers do not appear to be attracted there.
Chamber CEO Rita McInerney made the comment in the wake of Bank of Scotland choosing to locate in a prime retail premises at the centre of the town.
The bank, which will open in April, will move to the former premises of ACC bank on High Street in the town.
While welcoming the move to the town, Ms McInerney said, “The only concern in relation to the location is we would want to see more retail in the town centre. I would like to see more retail moving into the town”.
A number of buildings including the premises formerly occupied by Japan, Fox’s butchers, the old Carrig Donn building and Cassidy’s Pharmacy, on O’Connell Street, are all vacant. Carrig Donn and Cassidy’s did move to larger premises, but their old premises remain vacant.
“We do welcome Bank of Scotland coming to the town, but I would be jumping up and down even more if it was retail,” added the Chamber CEO.
Bank of Scotland, meanwhile, says it did not move into the former ESB offices on Carmody Street – many of the Bank of Scotland outlets moved to vacant ESB stores nationwide – because it was too big.
The bank’s head of retail Chrissie Quinn told The Clare People , “It was just too big. We were looking for a particular size of unit.”
Workers are due to go on site at the High Street building next week and will continue to work there until scheduled opening in early to mid April.
Some former ESB employees – who worked in the Carmody Street office prior to its closure – will take up employment with Bank of Scotland, whose Ennis branch is one of 46 nationwide due to open over the next 14 months.
“The emphasis will be on value for money and products that customers said they wanted. The premises are very open, colourful and welcoming,” said Ms Quinn.
Asked if there is a possibility of further expansion, to include other Clare towns, she said, “We will consolidate and see where we will go from there. The first 46 branches will give us reach to two-thirds of the population.”
The Ennis branch will open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 9am and 12 noon every Saturday.