By Terry McBride
Shop Traders in Castle Street are wholeheartedly backing any proposals to depedestrianise the area, believing that failure do so could result in many businesses having to close.
Business folk of the area were responding to a debate at last Monday night's Council meeting were the issue of opening up Castle Street was raised. Although members failed to agree on whether or not plans should go ahead they did agree a site meeting should take place to discuss the plans.
Seamus Mc Garrigle who has been trading for 40 years in Strabane has witnessed a steady decline of customers to his shop and the area, he has no doubt that it's a direct result of the lack of car parking facilities.
What we need is some form of limited parking where shoppers can park for a short period of time to allow them to shop in this street. At present there are no parking provisions here for the elderly, the disabled or anyone else.
We have suffered a double whammy here with the loss of considerable car parking space in and around Strabane. And of course we have to compete with the major retail parks who are able to provide free car parking. Two shops on this street have already relocated and one shop owner is set to retire early rather than continue in business".
Although Castle Street is clearly marked as a pedestrianised zone there is no doubt there are more cars passing through than people. Local businessman William Mealiff doesn't agree it's an area were shoppers can go about the business safely.
"This isn't a pedestrian-friendly area, come here at any time of the day and you will see parked cars and numerous cars driving through here. If anything pedestrians are lulled into a false sense of security thinking it a car-free zone or which it is not.
The road needs to be opened up which would allow shoppers to park giving them greater access to the shops on this street. Any claims that taxi drivers would 'flood' the place if we proceeded with depedestrianisation is just scare-mongering."
Owner of Fudge Lorraine O'Neil, commenting on the lack of available parking spaces for customers, said. "Some councillors may think that the area is a great facility for old people and families to walk around and shop safely. If this is true then it has been at great cost to shop owners in this street. Life in this area has become very dead."
