The Labour Party Spring 2014

SENATOR LORRAINE HIGGINS

OUR VISION FORBUSINESS IN

GALWAY EAST

LABOUR’S BUSINESS MANIFESTOTO HELP OUR TOWNS1. Reduction in Rates

Businesses are shouldering the burden of financing local government. However, with theproperty tax being made available to local authorities it does not make sense to continueto tax businesses who are job creators in our communities in this way. As a Labour Groupwe will strive to have your rates reduced within our local government structures.

2. Adjustment of Parking Charges

It is important that the Council offers businesses and their customers flexibility by givingpeople the first half hour free parking on the streets. Abbeyfeale and Portadown alreadyhave this so why not, Athenry, Oranmore, Loughrea, Gort, Portumna,Tuam who should all benefit in the same way so they canencourage people into their town centres. In particular webelieve there should be free parking periods from 9.30-10.30 and after 5pm Monday to Saturday with noparking charges on Sundays. We will work towardstrying to implement this.

3. Traffic Management Review

This is essential to ensure our towns become morefriendly to citizens, shoppers, visitors and tourists and thattraffic flows more easily. Some towns have differentobstacles: Athenry with the railway crossing and a one-waysystem which affects Loughrea also. There is also a need toreview the operation of traffic lights in all of our towns andsee if are they having a detrimental impact on traffic flow.

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4. Marketing and promotion of our towns

A percentage of each towns business rates should be retained for marketing and promotingthose towns both nationally and internationally. Money should be allocated for brandingthe unique selling point of all our towns and devising strategy to encourage more visitors.We need to have a new vision as to how we can encourage people into our town centres sowe can help business and create jobs. A marketing strategy and a marketing fund is key todelivering on this.

5. Irish Rail pricing structure should bereconsidered

If we lived in commuter areas in Dublin we would benefitfrom reduced train fares. So why not for the towns of GalwayEast? This would suit commuters, tourists and travellers alikeespecially on routes from Galway to Athenry, Oranmore, Gortand Ballinasloe. We will lobby for change in this policy toencourage people into our towns.

Seanad Éireann:Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2Tel: 01 618 3186Email: lorraine.higgins@oir.ie

Constituency Offices:Piggott Street, LoughreaMcDonald’s Lane, AthenryTel: 091 842200

SENATOR LORRAINE HIGGINS

WORKING WITH YOUR LOCAL LABOUR TEAM

Web: www.lorrainehiggins.com

Follow Lorraine on:

Dessie O’Brien087 8346441dessiebriensbar@gmail.com

dessieobrien

Madge Dean0879107231madgedean1@gmail.com

Madge Dean

Cllr Johnny Walsh 087 9973008

0612

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