Posted online: Mar 1st, 2010

By Ciaran O’Neill
coneill@derrynews.net

SHOPOWNERS in Derry are to set up a new traders association in the city in a bid to prevent more businesses going to the wall.
In recent weeks, several businesses in the city centre have been forced to close due to a significant drop in trade.
And there is concern that more shops will close unless more is done to help independent traders.
A meeting was held on Saturday evening in the city centre to discuss how the problem can be addressed.
Foyle MP Mark Durkan attended the meeting to listen to the concerns of the local traders.
Martin McCrossan, who runs a tour guide business in Derry, said there was a lot of frustration expressed at the meeting.
“This meeting was about bringing together people who have a common interest, and that interest is survival in business,” he said.
“in the last couple of weeks, we have had two businesses on Waterloo Street close, three on Carlisle Road and another one is due to close on Ferryquay Street.
“This highlights the dire situation facing independent traders in Derry and more needs to be done to help them.”
Mr McCrossan said the traders believe that forming their own association is an important step to take.
“We need an organization without outside influence which is going to fight for the traders.
“At the minute we have the City Centre Initiative but it is funded by the Department of Social Development and Derry City Council.
“By forming our traders association, it is sending out a message that we are determined to fight for a better deal for local businesses.”
The new group will be officially launched at another meeting on Thursday.
“We will be inviting all local politicians to that meeting to give them a chance to hear our concerns and to look at ways that we can all work together to help develop Derry independent traders.”
Meanwhile, a meeting between a group of Strand Road traders and the Department of Social Development (DSD) last Thursday ended in stalemate.
The meeting had been aimed at exploring ways to increase footfall and boost trade in the area through the Public Realm regeneration scheme.
However, traders’ suggestions to open up the Police Court Street area and implement a single flow of traffic were rejected by the DSD.
SDLP Councillor, Helen Quigley, who attended the meeting, said changes must be made to help Strand Road businesses thrive.
“On the back of the Public Realm Scheme, which is to be welcomed and used for an attraction for greater footfall and more public space, we still need these traders connected to the city and currently they have been asking DRD to open up access at that end of the Strand Road,” she said.
“We were suggesting that maybe they could take Police Court Street out of the pedestrianised zone that would allow for four extra spaces and allow the traffic to flow through around the back and back out again.”