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How to improve Sligo!

L.Jenkins

I'm not a native, but the Wife is Sligo born and raised and we spent a bit of time there on weekends and overnights. I'm posting the thread, just to see how people from Sligo would improve the town itself.

Some of the more obvious things I can see, is the Quayside Shopping Centre and the number of vacant units. Is it rent costs and service charges that's keeping business away? Even time I do visit the Centre, it looks a bit dull, maybe it's the number of empty units and poor lighting.

The other, which I've seen proposed by a number of Sligo residents is the Pennys and Tesco outlets. Both are in desperate need of being updated. The other thing I can see is the need for free Car Parking in the Town and better broadband in the surrounding towns and areas.

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rizzodun

Is it still compulsory to pay double pay on bank holidays?

My point was that people will continue to overlook Sligo if the impression persists that Sligo isn't open for business.

The old saying 'you've got to spend money to make money' comes into mind here, you say the numbers are not consistant or predictable, maybe that is because people know there's no point coming to Sligo on days like that because everywhere is closed?

I used to work in a place where the opinion was that it wasn't worth opening on bank holidays, when it got taken over the new owners used to open every bank holiday, the opinion was that they may not make money, but it shows to anyone that is passing through that they're open, I saw first hand that their sales grew steadily over the next 3 years, a lot of it down to this sort of attitude when running their business, no expensive advertising or cutting of prices.

The 100 tourists I saw was in less than 1 hour, I'd imagine that if the perception changed regarding Sligo the town could easily pull in 5 times that amount.

By the way, whether shops and businesses opened on the bank holiday, kudos to most of them for pushing Sligo in general as a place to visit, as you have mentioned, the odd event day and small ad's on TV just show that most businesses in Sligo cannot rely on the local government and chamber to push Sligo as a viable place to visit, it's the public and businesses doing all the work.

il gatto

If the numbers were there and consistant/predictable, they would open. It's not a case of not bothering or needing some multi business consensus. If you have a struggling business you won't pay staff double time on a bank holiday knowing full well that you may not have a single customer. Two tourist groups is what, two coachloads? 100 people. You'd need 5 times that before it's be viable to open many shops.
Sligo needs a serious push from Tourism ireland to kick start a tourist trade. Less p/ssing money away on Yeats day (do it but don't expect many people to come because of a poet) and the like and a commitment to push Sligo abroad. I've heard many times from tourists that they had to ask people at tourism shows etc. for stuff about Sligo which was buried in a box or they just didn't have. Nobody wants to risk taking anything from the Killarneys, Galways and Westports I suppose.
A low budget ad on RTE with a view of the footbridge and someone reciting Yeats was the best Sligo got.

rizzodun

I was in town at 11 this morning and I saw two tourist groups walking around the town with nearly all the shops closed.

I understand it's a bank holiday but the business in the town need to come to some sort of collective agreement about trading hours, the more shops open, the bigger chance of people travelling to Sligo on a day like today to spend some money.

At 11:00, all that was open on O'Connell st. was Easons, Penneys and Boots, Johnston's court was shut and had no opening hours for today on it, neither did Three, and a lot of other shops I walked by it was the same story. Anyone who happened to make the trip to or stopped by Sligo would have had no idea if any of these shops were opening at all. Business might take a bit of a hit on a bank holiday but if the impression was that the whole town was open for business then maybe people would make the journey in to the town centre that the chamber of commerce and the businesses spend so much time complaining that isn't happening right now.

Mint Sauce

SprostonGreen wrote: »

Clamp and impound cars that ignorantly parked by their ignorant owners, ie, wherever they like. Bridge st, High st at the electrical store and Grattan st all manner of imbeciles park here and not a thing is done about it. Clamped and impounded with a €300 release fee, that might put manners on them.

Now they're parking right outside the post office. Bastards.

Dont see the point in Clamping, as the car will still be causing an obstuction, but now its immovable until the owner pays or sneakely removes the clamp, or the car is impounded.

SprostonGreen

Clamp and impound cars that ignorantly parked by their ignorant owners, ie, wherever they like. Bridge st, High st at the electrical store and Grattan st all manner of imbeciles park here and not a thing is done about it. Clamped and impounded with a €300 release fee, that might put manners on them.

Now they're parking right outside the post office. Bastards.

worlds goodest teecher

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Surely you mean the Castle and Gratten St one look great, as they were done last year.

Although I'm waiting for the Coco amd IW to get their act together so O'Connell St can be done, hopefully before the Fladh.

No, I mean the paving on Wine St. (Maybe it is only on one side) looks great. The paving on Castle St./Gratten St. although much better than the previous in-situ concrete paths, they are dull and grubby.

Mint Sauce

worlds goodest teecher wrote: »

I always thought that Stephens St car park would great developed as a small public park with hard standings created for markets and small concerts, but what are the chances of the Council giving up revenue from parking for the benefit of the town and its people? None.

On another point, when are the footpaths in the town going to be finished? The footpaths on Wine St look great and clean, the complete opposite of the Grattan St and Castle St paths.

Surely you mean the Castle and Gratten St one look great, as they were done last year.

Although I'm waiting for the Coco amd IW to get their act together so O'Connell St can be done, hopefully before the Fladh.

worlds goodest teecher

malibu4u wrote: »

A bit of grass and a few trees would be nice all right. Its very drab, especially on a wet day. In December it was impossible to get parked anywhere. There are some derelict buildings between the inner relief road, where most people come in to town from, and the town centre. Level them, make more car parking spaces there and keep the price cheap, say 50 cents an hour max. Then people will stop for a coffee or snack or refreshments. I was talking to a mini-bus driver recently, he never stops in Sligo, but he would like to if it was attractive enough to do so.

I always thought that Stephens St car park would great developed as a small public park with hard standings created for markets and small concerts, but what are the chances of the Council giving up revenue from parking for the benefit of the town and its people? None.

On another point, when are the footpaths in the town going to be finished? The footpaths on Wine St look great and clean, the complete opposite of the Grattan St and Castle St paths.

malibu4u

A bit of grass and a few trees would be nice all right. Its very drab, especially on a wet day. In December it was impossible to get parked anywhere. There are some derelict buildings between the inner relief road, where most people come in to town from, and the town centre. Level them, make more car parking spaces there and keep the price cheap, say 50 cents an hour max. Then people will stop for a coffee or snack or refreshments. I was talking to a mini-bus driver recently, he never stops in Sligo, but he would like to if it was attractive enough to do so.

Chinasea

What is the obsession with cars in Sligo. It is the ruination of the town. I tried to take a few photos down town, but every which way was blighted by a dam car ugly car park.

There is a serious lack of green/foilage trees in the town too, and the gray tatty housing estates with their grim concreted front gardens, just add to the grayness. Plant some trees Sligo, in fact Tescos are selling trees this week for €3.99.

There is no question, but the town should be pedestrianised.

worlds goodest teecher

Was in Donegal Town a few weeks ago. The town looks really well, low numbers of unoccupied shops and loads of people around. Me thinks the 50c per hour for parking has helped with that. It's a shame Sligo is almost the complete opposite in all departments

red sean

Ya, thats it Buzz. I live in the Maugherow area and it's been a while since I was up there so my distances may be a bit out!.

thebuzz

red sean wrote: »

For Lukes Bridge, after Cashelgarron turn right for Ballintrillick and then take the second right, theres a small car park about 2km up .

Is that on the road where the Council water supply place is or am I thinking of a different area?

rizzodun

thebuzz wrote: »

Can someone send me a link on Google maps as to where both these places are? Have no idea. Thanks.

I think this is probably better...

http://mountainviews.ie/summit/402/comment/6737/?PHPSESSID=69hcbs9ckq4t5df59d6c792114

red sean

Going from Sligo, turn right at Bens Hardware store and take the first left (approx 700mts). At the top of that road as it swings left the 'Green road' is straight ahead of you.
For Lukes Bridge, after Cashelgarron turn right for Ballintrillick and then take the second right, theres a small car park about 2km up .

thebuzz

red sean wrote: »

On the south facing side of the mountain, access has been closed by two farmers whose land adjoins the access point known locally as the 'green road'.
As a result, Sligo CoCo asked for submissions from locals on the matter.
I spoke to one of the men involved and their fear is accident/insurance related as this 'road' is on their title deeds as a 'right of way' for them only.
CoCO responded some weeks later to say, in a nutshell', that as a result of the Lissadell ruling they were not getting involved, and that there is still access to the mountain via 'Lukes bridge' on the west facing side.

Can someone send me a link on Google maps as to where both these places are? Have no idea. Thanks.

red sean

I think the solution lies a lot higher than any Co Co. In my opinion it's time the Depts. of Tourism and Agriculture get together with the farming organisations and hammer out a solution nationally.
I am not a farmer and don't even come from a farming background, but I can see where farmers are coming from on this.
Only about two years ago a flock of sheep were chased out across the top of Ben Bulben by hillwalkers dogs. I know this is irresponsible dog ownership, but, it's gets all hillwalkers a bad name. The mountains of Ireland are beautiful for us and tourists to walk over, but they're a farmers workplace.
The problem on Ben Wisken I understand is resolved as long as permission is granted by the farmers involved and this situation will probably be similar given time.
The Tourism Dept. in particular, need to start realising how big an attraction this type of holiday/pastime can be, and get all problems like this sorted on a national scale.

peasant

John_Rambo wrote: »

I've always been happy to park and walk around Sligo. Tourists are the same. They don't have the "must park at the door" obsession that locals have.

What's going on with the mountains? Is there an issue with access to the peaks?

A tourist information in the town center caters for the handful that have already made the conscious decision to go and have a look at Sligo ...you want to catch the thousands that just bypass it

Benbulben is THE major landmark, but access to it is almost secret ..no signposts (other than "private land keep off"), no guidance, no clear path to follow.
Compare that with access to Knocknarea, signposted with the mountain symbol all the way from the dual carriageway and you know what I mean.

John_Rambo

rizzodun wrote: »

Maybe I've dumbed it down a bit but at least explore the possibility rather than washing their hands of it because their scared about even having the discussion.

Exactly. Simple dialogue is needed. This is a big issue, someones going to have to step up if Sligo County Council aren't capable. They proved themselves to be useless last time round by pushing too hard, are they going to prove themselves to be useless this time by doing nothing?

rizzodun

You would think that regardless of the Lissadell issue all the CoCo have to do is get the landowners into a room and ask what can be done to restore access and eliminate the responsibility of the landowners regarding insurance. If that is all the landowners are worried about surely the way to go is absolve them of that, and restore access.

Maybe I've dumbed it down a bit but at least explore the possibility rather than washing their hands of it because their scared about even having the discussion.

red sean

John_Rambo wrote: »

Right, thanks Sean.

Bloody hell, "We did the wrong thing last time, made a balls of it so we're not going to do our job anymore". Well done Sligo CoCo.

In fairness John, I think what they were saying is that we, ie the locals, always thought there was a public right of way in Lissadell, and then the ridiculously expensive court system decided otherwise, that the gamble is financially too big to prove one way or the other.

John_Rambo

Right, thanks Sean.

red sean wrote: »

CoCO responded some weeks later to say, in a nutshell', that as a result of the Lissadell ruling they were not getting involved

Bloody hell, "We did the wrong thing last time, made a balls of it so we're not going to do our job anymore". Well done Sligo CoCo.

red sean

On the south facing side of the mountain, access has been closed by two farmers whose land adjoins the access point known locally as the 'green road'.
As a result, Sligo CoCo asked for submissions from locals on the matter.
I spoke to one of the men involved and their fear is accident/insurance related as this 'road' is on their title deeds as a 'right of way' for them only.
CoCO responded some weeks later to say, in a nutshell', that as a result of the Lissadell ruling they were not getting involved, and that there is still access to the mountain via 'Lukes bridge' on the west facing side.

John_Rambo

peasant wrote: »

As for tourism:

The tourist information needs to be moved from the Hawkswell to somewhere at the relief road ...and it needs to have parking. No passing tourist will ever find it, never mind stop there where it is now.

The mountains around Sligo (Benbulben in particular) need to have public access. The land owners need to be negotiated with, a proper path created, marked and marketed.

I've always been happy to park and walk around Sligo. Tourists are the same. They don't have the "must park at the door" obsession that locals have.

What's going on with the mountains? Is there an issue with access to the peaks?

Save our libraries

I would say that where is is now is ideally located. Centre of town, nice old building. I also don't get all the moaning about parking, I'm a learner driver and have no problems parking in Sligo. The only issue is that's its too expensive.

Mint Sauce

Save our libraries wrote: »

peasant wrote: »

As for tourism:

The tourist information needs to be moved from the Hawkswell to somewhere at the relief road ...and it needs to have parking. No passing tourist will ever find it, never mind stop there where it is now./quote]

It was moved months ago to the top of o Connell st

Even less parking there though. Town centre probably more ideal, but a purposes built, more accessible would probably be better.

Save our libraries

peasant wrote: »

As for tourism:

The tourist information needs to be moved from the Hawkswell to somewhere at the relief road ...and it needs to have parking. No passing tourist will ever find it, never mind stop there where it is now./quote]

It was moved months ago to the top of o Connell st

peasant

As for tourism:

The tourist information needs to be moved from the Hawkswell to somewhere at the relief road ...and it needs to have parking. No passing tourist will ever find it, never mind stop there where it is now.

The mountains around Sligo (Benbulben in particular) need to have public access. The land owners need to be negotiated with, a proper path created, marked and marketed.

SO7378

T-Bird wrote:

They could go up north and advertise Sligo and its shops etc. Euro is very week in comparison to Sterling, which makes for cheap buying. At least it will get a bit of money in.

good idea in fairness

T-Bird

They could go up north and advertise Sligo and its shops etc. Euro is very week in comparison to Sterling, which makes for cheap buying.
At least it will get a bit of money in.