Locals feel they are sidelined at Thomond Park
THE casual traders that for over 20 years have been plying their wares outside the grounds of Thomond Park, are now meeting with “unfair competition” from traders within the stadium grounds, it has been claimed.
This is according to local councillor, Kevin Kiely,
who has complained to Limerick City Council’s director of finance, John Field, that the “inside traders” return to Dublin with their profits after the match.
“The local traders who have their permits from the council are fully tax compliant, have their vans passed by the HSE and create a colourful, carnival atmosphere and have been doing so for 20 years or more. They are also cheaper in some cases – a burger and chip costs half what it costs from the inside traders. Now they are being pushed down towards Sexton Street North and up as far as
Limerick Institute of Technology, and bollards have been erected on the green area in front of the Ballynanty houses to prevent them parking their stalls there.
“There should have been a meeting with all the Ward councillors and liaison between all the interest groups involved – the traders should not be treated in such a heavy handed manner – something must be done – there arwze two big matches and two big concerts coming up, and stands, appropriately situated, must be designated to them”.
Former Ireland international, Cllr Gerry McLoughlin, said: “We should look after our own – the new traders inside the grounds make their money and then go back up to Dublin”.
Agreeing to a meeting of the relevant parties, Mr Field said there are health and safety issues to be considered, as well as the concerns of people living near by.
Confirming that he has already been in touch with Superintendent Frank O’Brien, Cllr Kiely said the former Mayor, Frank Prendergast, representing the Mayorstone residents, said they would be happy to see the traders continue to do business just outside the stadium, as long as the area was left in a clean condition afterwards.
“I’m appealing to those who drew up this exclusion area to dissent until we can all work this out, and meantime, I question the council’s right to co-operate with the gardai in coming up with an exclusion zone, which will take away the lovely carnival atmosphere. I’m glad that a meeting, which I will chair, has been arranged between the council officials, the gardai, the stadium operators and the residents. I will be recommending that the council installs tarmacadam strips on the green to facilitate stalls that can be easily dismantled”.
The Thomond Park stadium director, John Cantwell, said the stall owners operating inside Thomond Park have a contract with the stadium’s catering company.
“It is up to the city council and the gardai to take decisions regarding the outside traders”.
