It’s hoped South Clare will see the benefits of a new pilot initiative aimed at revitalising town centres.
Sixmilebridge is one of 26 towns across the country selected for a new scheme targeting vacant commercial premises.
A plan to revive town centres by turning empty shopfronts into new local businesses is being proposed by Minister of State for Retail Alan Dillon.
The proposed Vacant to Vibrant Retail Activation Programme will see local authorities, regeneration officers and Local Enterprise Offices work together to match empty properties with the needs of their communities.
The proposal aims to boost main street footfall and create sustainable jobs.
Sixmilebridge Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe believes the scheme is long overdue for one of Clare’s largest towns.
Under the proposal, towns would identify priority vacant premises and the types of businesses and services most needed locally.
This would include examining how existing measures, such as shopfront improvement schemes and targeted rates incentives, could better support efforts to bring vacant premises back into use.
Sixmilebridge Fianna Fail Councillor Alan O’Callaghan says the devil will be in the detail as to how the initiative will transform the town.
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