Tramore business closures

DeiseDan

Today brings the revelation that tonight is to be the last day of trading for the Seahorse tavern. this means that Tramore will be boasting the following closed premises. Freddies Arcade, Shanty Bar offshore off licence Sands Hotel, Baldy Man Pine rooms, Lous sweet shop HiB Bohans waterfront, Seahorse Tavern Pier Off licence, Dynasty chinese, not to mention ong closed businesses such as Daintys ice cream parlour, cuckoos nest 3 swans Tramore Hotel & Rocketts of Westown Not to mention the vacant units in the industrial estate & the new summerhill centre, as well as other units left empty by businesses still going but merely relocated. With all these closed premises can Tramore honestly hope to attract any kind of inward business or investment when there is so little there to start on. Tramore Chamber have started a great shopping in Tramore initative & many local busineses are on board but has time come for drastic action to save our town? anybody with thoughts or ideas of what maybe should or could be done to save what appears to be a sinking ship??

Sully

The above post had been unapproved until the Seahorse made the closure official, which they did late yesterday evening on their Facebook page (I have also spoken with them in person and confirmed such). The post is now live following this.

Anyway, yeah very weird seeing so many businesses close up. This time of the year is tough on everyone, as its the quietest time of the year due to lack of tourists. It just serves as another reminder that the people of the town need to get out there and support local businesses.

I was delighted to see a few businesses get together and run an initiative to get pictures of local shops and what they have on offer up on Facebook. Hopefully it will remind people what a great town we have and that its very much open for business but needs support. Before they went with this initiative, I had setup another 'Shop Local' initiative to encourage people to stay and shop in the town with a 'Bargain Friday' initiative through Discover Tramore. Good few of our members have joined up and are providing great offers and discounts which I hope will encourage more people to stay local.

What people don't seem to understand is that if we don't support each other, get involved in these initiatives and work together than we could potentially see more businesses close up which isn't going to help anyone or other businesses as it will result in less and less people in the town as it wont have as much on offer.

rasper

Sorry to hear about the seahorse, nice food and cosy atmosphere ,

SPQRI

Tramore was a lost cause for years as it stood still & never invested in itself. The run down Las Vegas of the South East, a racecourse that needs massive investment, & going by previous threads, a dingy caravan park. Dirty beaches, & footpaths.

marlin vs

And don't forget you have to pay for parking to go visit Tramore,long gone are the day's that you could just go out just for a spin and get a chip or an ice cream.

xperi

you cant even buy a hotel package for the family that includes admission to the amusements, in this day and age thats stone age tourism

xperi

cuckoos nest & the swans have been gone for years, their licenses were brought by supermarkets, they closed before the boom in ireland, dont see ur point in including them do you ??

Brick Session

And we still dont want Aldi to invest in Tramore????

I have a question for all of the serial objectors who have objected to Aldi coming to Tramore, the proposed Hotel & Golf Course for Westown area, the proposed Skate park etc etc,

Tell me lads what plans have ye got to create employment and attract investment in Tramore Town?

Sully

marlin vs wrote: »

And don't forget you have to pay for parking to go visit Tramore,long gone are the day's that you could just go out just for a spin and get a chip or an ice cream.

This is only during the summer months and along the promenade. You can park a little further away and you wont be charged for parking - for example, you can park along the road by the Majestic Hotel.

xperi wrote: »

you cant even buy a hotel package for the family that includes admission to the amusements, in this day and age thats stone age tourism

This is something I am working on through Discover Tramore and hope to have in place for the new season. I have managed to get a few of the indoor entertainment centers to give reduced entry but it was mid-summer by the time I got it up and running. I intend to get more, but its a bit of a challenge.

Sully

Brick Session wrote: »

And we still dont want Aldi to invest in Tramore????

I have a question for all of the serial objectors who have objected to Aldi coming to Tramore, the proposed Hotel & Golf Course for Westown area, the proposed Skate park etc etc,

Tell me lads what plans have ye got to create employment and attract investment in Tramore Town?

With respect, all and any developments in Tramore need to adhere to correct planning standards. The objectors can object all they like and the council may let it slip through but there has been far to many developments in Ireland that shouldn't have been given the go ahead. So, An Bord Pleanala will have the final say in ensuring it suits the area, is within proper planning and ensuring the objectors points are correct or not. I see no problem with that at all.

SPQRI

Sully wrote: »

With respect, all and any developments in Tramore need to adhere to correct planning standards. The objectors can object all they like and the council may let it slip through but there has been far to many developments in Ireland that shouldn't have been given the go ahead. So, An Bord Pleanala will have the final say in ensuring it suits the area, is within proper planning and ensuring the objectors points are correct or not. I see no problem with that at all.

Another Brendan McCann supporter!!!

Where would we be without him! Anyone in Dundrum lately???

Brick Session

You are right Sully, tis better to have a ghost town and people unemployed as long as the planning laws are not breached. Are these the same planning laws that our elected officials from all parties have adhered to down through the years?

To be honest Sully it gets me down when companies want to invest and create employment in Waterford city & county that all we hear about is objections to planning. Do any of these people who object to every proposed development engage with any of these companies to work with them to provide alternatives and keep them interested in locating in the town and county.

Sully

Brick Session wrote: »

You are right Sully, tis better to have a ghost town and people unemployed as long as the planning laws are not breached. Are these the same planning laws that our elected officials from all parties have adhered to down through the years?

To be honest Sully it gets me down when companies want to invest and create employment in Waterford city & county that all we hear about is objections to planning. Do any of these people who object to every proposed development engage with any of these companies to work with them to provide alternatives and keep them interested in locating in the town and county.

There is nothing to suggest that these businesses would actually fix our towns problem for a start. But, yes, I would prefer all our planning laws and guidelines were upheld and we didn't just build anything for the sake of jobs and investment. Mistakes have been made in the past and we are living to regret it - why continue to make the same mistakes?

If they are in breach of planning - fix and return with a new application. Whats the big deal with that?

SPQRI

I watched a documentary a few years ago about an area in the west of Ireland where there built an ugly power station or factory & they were talking to a former employee against a very scenic backdrop with the unscenic factory also in the picture.

The interviewer said to the man 'It doesn't make a pretty view' to which he replied 'neither does poverty'

Brick Session

Sully wrote: »

There is nothing to suggest that these businesses would actually fix our towns problem for a start.

Employent might encourage spending money in our town, while this won't solve all of Tramores problems it will help to get money circulating in the town again.

But, yes, I would prefer all our planning laws and guidelines were upheld and we didn't just build anything for the sake of jobs and investment.

Tell that to all of the people who sign on every week and can't pay their mortgage or make ends meet

Mistakes have been made in the past and we are living to regret it - why continue to make the same mistakes?

Because times change and maybe the laws need to change to reflect that.

If they are in breach of planning - fix and return with a new application. Whats the big deal with that?

Why can't the objectors who can give plenty of reasons to knock a proposal turn their negative creativity into positive creativity for some good and assist the proposers in coming up with an application thats win win for everyone

realworld82

i would love to know what kind of economics some of the above posters have studied or believe in. Tramore should count it self lucky that the proposed shopping centre was never developed on the old celtworld site despite the fact the council allowed the developers to leave the site go to such a state.
the fascination with multi national retail being brought to the town is laughable, less people are now employed in retail in Tramore than was the case 10 years ago and decisions being made by those only interested in a political career rather than the town itself has led to a town of some 10000 people with no main street or focal point.

Jason Todd

I'll defend Sully's stance on planning in Tramore. I'd wager he knows his stuff when it comes to Tramore and he is doing as much if not more than anyone else to boost footfall in Tramore through his tourism endeavours.

SPQRI

xperi wrote: »

you cant even buy a hotel package for the family that includes admission to the amusements, in this day and age thats stone age tourism

I wonder if you can buy a package that includes the racing festival?

DeiseDan

The Main point that worries me is the fact the town seems to be sinking without a survival plan, & although @xperi you are right, the 3 swans etc have been gone a long time, it does not take too long for someone to say the places that have now just closed have been closed a long time. Do we just wait for a period of time then pretend these places never existed? To be truthful to drive from the railway building up turkey road & up strand St to the cross is a sad journey now especially in the evening. Tramore has it's problems but the question is how to rectify it or at least combat it which seems not to happen. maybe gag the objectors, & bring fresh investment into the town although I firmly believe the proposed hotel by Garrus was a huge white elephant. If the town stays as it is or even more places close, The few that may come next year simply wont return & that's when the main problems will really kick in, facilities that benefit from the tourist trade eg splashworld, run amuk, amusement park, take aways B&B's etc will start suffering & fall into the same hole. I think revolutionary thinking is desperately needed.

Sully

SPQRI wrote: »

I wonder if you can buy a package that includes the racing festival?

The Grand Hotel sometimes does, IIRC, yes.

SPQRI

Sully wrote: »

The Grand Hotel sometimes does, IIRC, yes.

Sometimes isn't exactly a definite, is it Sully!

Does anyone speak in english anymore??

Sully

SPQRI wrote: »

Sometimes isn't exactly a definite, is it Sully!

Does anyone speak in english anymore??

Right, I am actually fed up getting reported posts and complaints about your posting style. I defended you at the start as you are entitled to your opinion. But now you are straying into the insulting and trolling territory which is where the line is crossed. If you have nothing constructive or positive to say, it might be best you avoid posting before you turn everybody away from the forum. Thx bud, rly appreciated k?.

SPQRI

Sully wrote: »

Right, I am actually fed up getting reported posts and complaints about your posting style. I defended you at the start as you are entitled to your opinion. But now you are straying into the insulting and trolling territory which is where the line is crossed. If you have nothing constructive or positive to say, it might be best you avoid posting before you turn everybody away from the forum. Thx bud, rly appreciated k?.

Am I being censored, again!

This is what you might call 'another point of view' & if you can't deal with it you have no place as a moderator!

This is a democracy or maybe I am just deceiving myself into believing such! But then again as the late great Karl Marx said "Democracy is the road to socialism"

Wasn't he full of siht!

Captain Havoc

If you have a problem with a mod decision, please discuss via PM, if you're still not happy, please use the disputes resolution forum. In the mean-time have a one week holiday.

Sully

SPQRI wrote: »

Am I being censored, again!

This is what you might call 'another point of view' & if you can't deal with it you have no place as a moderator!

This is a democracy or maybe I am just deceiving myself into believing such! But then again as the late great Karl Marx said "Democracy is the road to socialism"

Wasn't he full of siht!

We have had a number of threads 'derailed' on off topic, incoherent rants and thoughts. So stick to the original topic at hand, don't bring it away from that point and lets not talk moderation in public. So, if you want to discuss moderation - my Inbox awaits you. We don't do censorship - we do fair posting.

looksee

I would love to see Tramore develop and become more vibrant - though to be honest I think there is more going on than there was a few years ago, and while there is a lot still to be done it is looking well too.

I do not agree however that a big hotel on the Garrarus site was ever going to be a good idea. The coast is what we have, stick a massive hotel on it and that's a chunk of it gone. If something similar could be developed in a less sensitive spot then fine, but I wonder if it would attract the numbers to this area, or would it just be another nama project.

Brick Session

realworld82 wrote: »

i would love to know what kind of economics some of the above posters have studied or believe in. Tramore should count it self lucky that the proposed shopping centre was never developed on the old celtworld site despite the fact the council allowed the developers to leave the site go to such a state.
the fascination with multi national retail being brought to the town is laughable, less people are now employed in retail in Tramore than was the case 10 years ago and decisions being made by those only interested in a political career rather than the town itself has led to a town of some 10000 people with no main street or focal point.

On the subject of multinationals in Ireland and their value to local economy, then this artcile is worth a read.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/pricewatch/2012/1126/1224327089450.html

With regard to Sully, while I would not know him if he stood in front of me, I do think his heart and passion are in the right place. He works tirelessly to promote Tramore and probably does not get much support on here for his efforts.

Tramore businesses need to get creative and attract visitors to our town by using joined up thinking, offering value add holidays like the entrance to the rides on the amusements or tickets to Splashworld or Run Amuk etc is just one of the ideas that might work. The same with the Races packages.

We are unfortunately up against it in Ireland due to our weather but if we can look past the constant need for sunshine we can get involved in Watersports and activities that once you dress suitably they can be good fun.

tramoreman

on the positive
summer hill market tramore has about 12 or 13 vacant units theres 8 units opened the market has only been opened a few weeks

the sands hotel had contract cleaners in there so i think it might be going to open again (not confirmed)

Itchianus

The rides in the amusement park in Tramore are operated by a number of different businesses. it's not the same as getting a pass into a theme park where all the rides are operated by the same entity. Someone with an economics brain better than mine can explain to me how they'd manage to make that work.

looksee

tramoreman wrote: »

on the positive
summer hill market tramore has about 12 or 13 vacant units theres 8 units opened the market has only been opened a few weeks

They could do with some more noticeable and informative signage though. Some nice little shops in there.

tramoreman

they have put a new sign up over the entrance saw that last weekend they also have a facebook page for the market

Itchianus

Where's this market??

tramoreman

its beside the cakeshop that is near robinsons bar in summerhill

Itchianus

Wow, never even spotted it

jack pippy

in my opinion i think their should be more festivals and stuff like that remember the tra fest that gathered good crowds that supported the local economic climate during the summer. tramore is a good town with lots of potential it could be so much more than it is today with a little more investment in the right areas the night life is gone and that was a huge attractor for tramore and the arcades are slowly going under something needs to be done if we want all those long forgotten fun summer days to come back its quiet sad really i miss the old tramore

realworld82

tramoreman wrote: »

its beside the cakeshop that is near robinsons bar in summerhill

said cakeshop closing up for good also

paulymac1

As a visitor to tramore for 15 years in a row until 2 years ago I find it hard to see the town losing its appeal,but the owners of the self catering apartments have to take a long look at themselves here.They are still charging the same amount for a weeks holiday as they did in the boom,who in there right mind is going to pay 750 euro per week plus 100 for ESB in todays financial climate.These prices are ridiculous,people cant and wont pay it,therefore the tourists money will go elsewhere.

Sully

paulymac1 wrote: »

As a visitor to tramore for 15 years in a row until 2 years ago I find it hard to see the town losing its appeal,but the owners of the self catering apartments have to take a long look at themselves here.They are still charging the same amount for a weeks holiday as they did in the boom,who in there right mind is going to pay 750 euro per week plus 100 for ESB in todays financial climate.These prices are ridiculous,people cant and wont pay it,therefore the tourists money will go elsewhere.

Just worth clarifying that some of the holiday homes we represented via Discover Tramore were not charging such rates. We represented most of the self catering businesses. Looking back at the 2012 rates for Pebble Beach, for example, peak rates were €650 per week. This was between July - August for a two bed-roomed house. ESB costs €8 per night or €35 for the Week. Earlier in the year, including June, rent was cheaper between €300 - €450.

Having dealt with people looking for self catering, there were some offers given to people throughout the summer season.

There are also B&Bs and Hotels available at very competitive rates.

paulymac1

Point well made,but these were the prices quoted to me including pebble Beach for August which is when I wanted to book,if 650 as you say was quoted to me at least 2000 euro would have been put into the tramore economy by my family but they were the prices quoted to me 750 euro.

[Steve]

Been living in Tramore my entire life (22 years), living up by the Ritz bar, I find that small area from the bar to Daybreak/Spar, the off-licence, golf course, Newtown cove, and the pier to be far better than the rest of tramore to be quite honest. (Although even up here it's not without the closures, with that big off licence closing down a while back.) Aside from needing to go to the supermarkets for food, the Ritz, Spar/Daybreak, and the off-licence cater to everything I'd need, plus using Newtown cove or the pier, and a Bus Stop to get out of the place when it's needed. Which is quite bad, I consider the rest of Tramore utterly pointless to spend time on.

Real pity businesses are closing down in the main part of Tramore, personally the last time I walked around the promenade area was to get chips in Dooly's with friends from Waterford who wanted to see the beach, A few weeks back, other than that I'm up around where I live or in town. Tramore will either resurrect itself (somehow) in the next 5-10 yrs or just become another Portlaw/Bunmahon. Just somewhere to drive through or just a beach to visit. Sadly.

I really think, that idea of a group package with the hotels and the amusements would really spark interest in this place. Moreover, just have the amusements become a single entity with one price. In summer, with the circus and all, the prom can't be beat. Right now though, nothing but dooly's. All in all, I don't know. Living here is different to being someone who wants to come and spend money here to enjoy the place. Still a good bit to do around the place, if you've never ever been here before. :rolleyes:

foxcoverteddy

reading the posts there are many who would like to see Tramore come alive again, but there is a lack of idea's. It seems the local council is of little help, so who elected them?
a decent caravan park, one on the lines of Casey's at Clonea, currently there is a mystery surrounding opening times, 1st May.
A lot of traders rely on the increase of business from the caravanners, but alas Clonea has no competition.
Pity the rail line has gone, steam trains from Waterford to tramore, would have been a big draw.
Is there a regatta? Dungarvan have bikes why not have tramore involved?
Aldi will drag people in, okay you are lucky you have Tesco, the two will increase footfall, do away with parking charges.
Try and get an old world charm about the place, long live Tramore

looksee

Great to see some ideas being offered foxcoverteddy - but - bikes? Really? In Tramore?

foxcoverteddy

What about a couple of music festivals one rock etc and then try classical.
Or get a marching band competition going. Just thinking aloud.

[Steve]

Tra Fest used to be here. But they've lost funding. That's the killer part about annual events. It seems the only things that draw people here is the beach and the races.

Smiley Burnett

tramore is living in the past....it continues to aim for the lower end of the market...that is the problem....slot machines and bumpers??? no thanks...

foxcoverteddy

Well an old saying where there's muck there's brass, yes it is the bottom end of the market, but can you think of a way of moving up? It is very difficult and can be costly with no guarantee of success.
If you reverse the down ward trend, no matter how you hate it, then perhaps you can start going up market.
Look I am only trying to help and perhaps my suggestions are a bit wild, look at the following of championship darts, as seen on sky, why not in Tramore something like that, Bowls an old peoples game, now that is a bit up market, is there a fishing museum or a boat museum, a joke we could anchor a plastic life size whale in the bay and do boat trips.
There must be many things that do not cost, if they are spending 5 million on Kilkenny high st, surely Tramore can get funding from Phil hogan.
Why not get a committee together, come on Tramore.

stefan idiot jones

I , as many others probably do not have the answer to Tramore's and many other towns problems, but as foxcoverteddy suggested about bowls, darts etc. you really have to target people with disposeable income/savings. Which is definately not people of the age group to feed the machines and go on overpriced rides. It's the oldies who have the money tucked away that should be focused on.
Young people and young families just do not have the spare cash to spend so maybe Tramore just has to remodel itself to a new market. Aesthetically, Tramore is stunning with the sand dunes, Brownstone Head, The Metal Man and the big church but I have to admit in totally despising everything do to with the amusement arcades, candy floss and the rip off rides.

foxcoverteddy

Tramore has to decide firstly why would anyone want to come, yes, sun, sea and sand, brilliant, what if it is raining, what do families do?
Elderly people want more than the beach, is there anything to attract them/
The one onstacle in the way is Waterford city and mayb e Dungarvan, they are almost making Tramore a dormitory town, in a way it is a bit like Kilkenny, we have not got a large department store and have two malls which give some respite during inclement weather.
Many seaside towns in the UK were notorious in the fifties and sixties for having sweet nothing for families on Bed and Breakfast holidays, sit in a cafe all day or if you could afford it a coach trip.
Now there is a thing, Mahon Falls, The Vee, Lismore, Blarney if you like, no car can't get there, old folk just love coach trips.
Is there a decent bookshop in town?
You have much to think about to bring people back, do a comparison with blackpool.
Get a proper caravan/motorhome park, advertise, sell yourself and do not whallow in the depths of despair, go forth, but do something positive

tramoreman

3 businesses have closed in summervill market since christmas sean og, southeast bean bags and the book shop seo sceal eile. southeast beanbags are concentrating on their website and seo sceal eile are getting a website done