Traders in Carrick-on-Shannon and Leitrim County Council have agreed to amend the times for a pilot pedestrianisation of the town centre in Carrick-on-Shannon at weekends.
Following a meeting today between the Council's Chief Executive and representatives of traders, it has been agreed that bollards will be erected from 1pm on Saturday until 8am on Monday morning for a four-week trial period.
Last Friday a stand-off, lasting almost three hours, developed after traders prevented the installation of bollards at 6pm as part of the Council's car-free zone plans
The protest was eventually stood down after the Council agreed to postpone street entertainment planned for last Saturday, with traders vowing to return to the protest unless they received engagement on their concerns from the Council.
Following a meeting which lasted over 90 minutes today, Carrick-on-Shannon pharmacist Brendan Kieran says they are reasonably happy with what has been agreed:
Leitrim County Council has also issued a statement this evening on the plan:
On foot of a request received, Leitrim County Council has engaged in discussions with a number of local retailers regarding the pilot weekend pedestrianisation of Main St. Carrick-on-Shannon. Arising from these discussions, the pilot pedestrianisation will now come into effect from 1 pm on Saturday afternoon and will continue through to 8am on Monday morning. This revised arrangement will take effect from 1 pm on Saturday 10th July and will continue for a period of 4 weeks including the August Bank Holiday weekend. The situation will be reviewed in August on completion of this pilot.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the pilot period Leitrim County Council will provide free public street entrainment on the section of pedestrianised Main St. with the intention of creating an inviting, friendly, family orientated atmosphere that will make the town centre a vibrant and attractive place for shoppers and visitors alike. We hope that this initiative brings vibrancy and increased footfall to the town centre which will be of benefit to all businesses operating in the town centre of our County town. Leitrim County Council would like to thank these retailers for their constructive engagement and input on reaching a solution to this matter.
