How to improve Sligo!

rizzodun · 09-04-2015 1:17pm

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.

John_Rambo · 09-04-2015 9:35pm

I really think locals need to support local business. That's why restaurants and shops close. They're not supported in the down time, off season.

I'm probably preaching to the converted here seeing as you're all logging on here trying your best to improve your town. So don't flame me!

Hope to be back to Sligo soon! The jewel of the North West.

sligono1 · 10-04-2015 8:38am

One start would be if the bankrupt council gave the traffic wardens the weekens off and introduced free parking bar dublin belfast I find it so expensive to park.

It's a start and build on it but agree with others on struggling shops that don't have the footfall to open its finical sucicide if the numbers don't crunch.

It was proposed in the past to bring the farmers market into town on a Saturday morn but the wise greedy men who have destroyed sligo from the chamber refused it.if even during the summer months it would have created a buzz a spectacle

The fleadh was great and made sligo wow but it has not been built on,such a pitty

Chinasea · 10-04-2015 7:17pm

sligono1 wrote: »

One start would be if the bankrupt council gave the traffic wardens the weekens off and introduced free parking bar dublin belfast I find it so expensive to park.

The fleadh was great and made sligo wow but it has not been built on,such a pitty

We are back focusing on the "car is king" theme again. Parking/access for cars will not, never, ever save a town. Moreso, however kill it. Park by all means in the town, but dig down, build some badly needed underground parking if you insist on parking right in the town. Hide the damn things, as said, the town is blighted by gray grim car parks strewn all over the place.

Is your only way of gaining access to your town via your car, is it really? Could you walk, could you cycle, could you not take a bus. Of course I know this is not possible for everyone, but for many it absolutely is.

As for the Fleadh. What a wonderful opportunity this is. The car has no place here, nor will it play any role. In fact, the town will be free from cars. (I'd hope).

And what about all the closed shops sitting idle - shopping as we know it is dead (on-line, outa town supermarkets etc., have all assisted in this demise). So why let the empty shops fester and rot. Why not rezone them back for families to live in. If this were to happen this would generate the need again for some local, smaller shops, which would in turn bring some life back in the town.

sligono1 · 10-04-2015 11:09pm

You sound like a your having a good auld troll there,or your car has let you down.cheer up you need to get out to the country to for a drive get on your bike or get the bus,leave the grey of the town behind you and see the the colours of the country,you will feel better after.

fillefatale · 11-04-2015 6:56pm

sligono1 wrote: »

You sound like a your having a good auld troll there,or your car has let you down.cheer up you need to get out to the country to for a drive get on your bike or get the bus,leave the grey of the town behind you and see the the colours of the country,you will feel better after.

They talk sense. That's not the definition of an internet troll ... :rolleyes:

Mint Sauce · 11-04-2015 9:22pm

Chinasea wrote: »

We are back focusing on the "car is king" theme again. Parking/access for cars will not, never, ever save a town. Moreso, however kill it. Park by all means in the town, but dig down, build some badly needed underground parking if you insist on parking right in the town. Hide the damn things, as said, the town is blighted by gray grim car parks strewn all over the place.

Is your only way of gaining access to your town via your car, is it really? Could you walk, could you cycle, could you not take a bus. Of course I know this is not possible for everyone, but for many it absolutely is.

As for the Fleadh. What a wonderful opportunity this is. The car has no place here, nor will it play any role. In fact, the town will be free from cars. (I'd hope).

And what about all the closed shops sitting idle - shopping as we know it is dead (on-line, outa town supermarkets etc., have all assisted in this demise). So why let the empty shops fester and rot. Why not rezone them back for families to live in. If this were to happen this would generate the need again for some local, smaller shops, which would in turn bring some life back in the town.

The problem with parking in town is, there is no incentive to bring your car in. 1.20 per hour with a max stay of 2hrs, including sundays and bank holidays, in car parks that have not been resurfaced since they were laid.

I would be in town most days I'm off, and nearly always park in either The Quayside or The Glasshouse. Atleast in them, there is less chance of returning to my car too see dings in the door.

rizzodun · 11-04-2015 9:32pm

Chinasea wrote: »

We are back focusing on the "car is king" theme again. Parking/access for cars will not, never, ever save a town. Moreso, however kill it. Park by all means in the town, but dig down, build some badly needed underground parking if you insist on parking right in the town. Hide the damn things, as said, the town is blighted by gray grim car parks strewn all over the place.

Is your only way of gaining access to your town via your car, is it really? Could you walk, could you cycle, could you not take a bus. Of course I know this is not possible for everyone, but for many it absolutely is.

As for the Fleadh. What a wonderful opportunity this is. The car has no place here, nor will it play any role. In fact, the town will be free from cars. (I'd hope).

And what about all the closed shops sitting idle - shopping as we know it is dead (on-line, outa town supermarkets etc., have all assisted in this demise). So why let the empty shops fester and rot. Why not rezone them back for families to live in. If this were to happen this would generate the need again for some local, smaller shops, which would in turn bring some life back in the town.

While I agree about hiding the car parking, you have to remember that probably the main problem with Sligo is that the population of Sligo alone is not enough to keep most businesses open, they need outside visitors, hence, the need for cars.

John_Rambo · 12-04-2015 10:54pm

rizzodun wrote: »

While I agree about hiding the car parking, you have to remember that probably the main problem with Sligo is that the population of Sligo alone is not enough to keep most businesses open, they need outside visitors, hence, the need for cars.

I visit Sligo and walk from my accommodation to the town. When I was too far out I'd drive and park on the outskirts. Cars do actually kill towns. I preferred when some of Sligo was partially pedestrianised. You're more likely to wander in to a shop if your walking than driving, and adventure tourists wouldn't have a problem walking. Did I see a traveler camp in a car park in Sligo a few years ago? That's certainly going to make a car park an ugly redundant eyesore!

rizzodun · 13-04-2015 12:30am

John_Rambo wrote: »

I visit Sligo and walk from my accommodation to the town. When I was too far out I'd drive and park on the outskirts. Cars do actually kill towns. I preferred when some of Sligo was partially pedestrianised. You're more likely to wander in to a shop if your walking than driving, and adventure tourists wouldn't have a problem walking. Did I see a traveler camp in a car park in Sligo a few years ago? That's certainly going to make a car park an ugly redundant eyesore!

While I would like to see Sligo pedestrianised it'll leave only one way from the south side to the north side of the town, that can cause difficulties on days where there are large numbers of people passing through, I think that has to be sorted first, the current layout of the inner relief road can't handle the traffic.

Agreed about the walking to town, but the people Sligo need to visit here are from other towns, most of those will not be familiar with Sligo, and the nearest 'out of town parking', if that is the preferred choice for car parking we're on about here, is the retail park (a good 15 - 20 minute walk), Cleveragh business park (15 min walk) or Connaughton road where the travellers are, with no regular bus services it's not the best choices on a wet and windy day for shopping in Sligo, no wonder many out of towners head for parking in the town centre.

thebuzz · 15-04-2015 10:17pm

Pedestrianise O'Connell Street only once the bridge over the Garavogue has been completed, otherwise it shouldn't even be considered.

John_Rambo · 15-04-2015 10:20pm

rizzodun wrote: »

but the people Sligo need to visit here are from other towns, most of those will not be familiar with Sligo, and the nearest 'out of town parking', if that is the preferred choice for car parking we're on about here, is the retail park (a good 15 - 20 minute walk), Cleveragh business park (15 min walk) or Connaughton road where the travellers are, with no regular bus services it's not the best choices on a wet and windy day for shopping in Sligo, no wonder many out of towners head for parking in the town centre.

I'm an out of town visitor! I usually find somewhere, not toooooo far out of town with free parking, if I don't, I don't mind paying for parking for a couple of hours either. I guess I'm used to it!

rizzodun · 15-04-2015 11:20pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

I'm an out of town visitor! I usually find somewhere, not toooooo far out of town with free parking, if I don't, I don't mind paying for parking for a couple of hours either. I guess I'm used to it!

If I go to another town I do the same, but I'm afraid we're in the minority, especially with families with small children. Mine don't mind walking but I can't say that for everyone. The best way to get people to visit is choice and convenience, Sligo has little of either I'm afraid.

redarmyblues · 23-04-2015 9:46pm

thebuzz wrote: »

Pedestrianise O'Connell Street only once the bridge over the Garavogue has been completed, otherwise it shouldn't even be considered.

I think the main reason for the increasing dereliction of Sligo town centre is that a huge amount of the local economy has decamped from the historic centre and gone out of town to Cranmore Road and the bottom of Cleveragh and into the coffers of Lidl, Aldi Argos et al. The construction of an eastern bridge will hasten this process, which is probably irreversible in Sligo.

This problem is well documented in the UK and if you want to see the appalling vista that awaits O Connell Street, google death of the High Street.

John_Rambo · 23-04-2015 9:59pm

redarmyblues wrote: »

I think the main reason for the increasing dereliction of Sligo town centre is that a huge amount of the local economy has decamped from the historic centre

Excellent point. Like any Irish town... Car dependency and isolated one off - out of village/town housing has been the downfall. The downfall of health, mental and physical and the downfall of the humble village and town.

redarmyblues · 23-04-2015 10:49pm

The pathological obsession with the car and traffic has become in some bizarre way,almost the governing or organising principle of society, give me convenience or give me death but that's another story. Let's be honest O Connell Street is a depressing kip and I think having a vantage point in the middle of the street as one walks down it will give one a finer appreciation of that fact.

GG66 · 27-04-2015 3:06pm

Under the Sligo Environs Development Plan the population of Sligo town decreased in favour of building up villages like Ballisodare, Coolaney, Strandhill and others. If you're going to have a thriving town, you need people living within it.

This and the planners insistance on out of town development despite widescale evidence from the UK that it doesn't work have lead to the current situation.

If you have a genuine interest in improving Sligo, take a strong interest in the Sligo Environs development plan and note that it is mostly developers and politicians who make submissions. Citizens were free to engage in it but most don't.

R_overs1 · 27-04-2015 7:21pm

Sack Heary..?

rizzodun · 27-04-2015 7:25pm

R_overs1 wrote: »

Sack Heary..?

Nail - Head

Mint Sauce · 27-04-2015 7:44pm

rizzodun wrote: »

Nail - Head

Would you rather Roddy Collins. He's the romour?

For Forks Sake · 27-04-2015 8:34pm

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Would you rather Roddy Collins. He's the romour?

Don't even joke about that possibility.

rizzodun · 27-04-2015 9:15pm

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Would you rather Roddy Collins. He's the romour?

That's like choosing between a bullet to the head or a cyanide pill

Mint Sauce · 27-04-2015 11:29pm

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Don't even joke about that possibility.

read it on a LOI website yesterday.

:eek:

worlds goodest teecher · 01-05-2015 4:15pm

Apart from the obvious, the joblessness, all empty shop units and all the dog sh%@ on the footpaths in the town, I think that addressing the drink and drug issues would improve Sligo.

I have lived in Sligo for seven years and over the past couple of years I noticed a lot more drink and drug related anti-social behaviour within the town.

Earlier today, while I was just standing on John's St., I was approached by a guy who was carrying four cans and was clearly under the influence of something stronger than a cup of tea. He started accusing me of following him and in his words putting him "under surveillance". He started getting more aggressive so I just walked away. This kind of stuff seems to have become more common within the town.

Would anyone else agree that there is a drink and drug problem in Sligo?

AllGunsBlazing · 01-05-2015 4:54pm

There's an alcohol and drug problem throughout the country. Visible heroin use on the streets of Dublin is a favourite topic on the After Hours forum. Walk into any corner store and you'll likely find that nearly half the store space dedicated to the sale of cheap booze.

Personally, I've noticed a lot of the newer, tiger-era buildings are starting to look a little faded. Some of them are barely 10 years old but aren't ageing very well. The whole town is starting to look like it did back in the 70's and 80's. Grim.

rizzodun · 01-05-2015 8:37pm

There's been a drink and drug problem in Sligo for years, I remember running a customer from where I worked years ago for snorting coke in full view of others! To be honest that was the most unusual thing I've ever seen, but seen plenty of hash users and drunks for years now. I think that side of Sligo will always be around, not sure how obvious it is to general folk though, some people would be a bit more ignorant to the drug side of it at least, but it's Ireland, we'll always have a drink problem if you ask me.

worlds goodest teecher · 01-05-2015 8:52pm

Last year when I was living in an apartment on Mail Coach Road I witnessed a drug transaction just outside my bedroom window. I got a picture of the dealer on my smartphone. I went to the Garda station and showed them the picture. They recognised the dealer and told me the drugs squad would be in touch for further information, I never heard from them.

rizzodun · 01-05-2015 8:57pm

Well in fairness they followed up on my particular one, took cctv & evidence etc, kept the owner informed but I was never told of the outcome.

Son Of A Vidic · 02-05-2015 8:22pm

Itzy wrote: »

How to improve Sligo!

Sending the clique that is the Sligo Chamber Of Commerce to the firing squad, would be a good place to start.

sligono1 · 03-05-2015 11:12am

Is there any way the general public can get rid of these people or get the chamber moved all together or is it just a cosy cartel for the golden circle about town to continue to look after their own interests.

whatswhat · 03-05-2015 8:27pm

sligono1 wrote: »

Is there any way the general public can get rid of these people or get the chamber moved all together or is it just a cosy cartel for the golden circle about town to continue to look after their own interests.

To use your words sligono1, I would say "cosy cartel" would cover it and it will never change so long as it's the same old, same old people in it.

Most of their past decisions has cost Sligo dearly and they seriously need to cop on. They have vetoed so many plans of big name retail firms wanting to come to this town that would have put Sligo well and truly on the shopping map, attracting visitors from afar, in favour of saving their own business which in my opinion, would attract few.

A place and it's economy survives and thrives if money is pumped into it. It is all about getting people to come and spend, whether that be social, leisure, pleasure etc.. Whether we like it or not, retail attracts and is the bulk of where most people spend their hard earned cash and it should be encouraged and catered for. This concept, you might think would have encouraged the chamber to say yes to big named retailers coming in, to attract more folk through their own doors but no, they selfishly saw this as a threat and blocked it. In my opinion, they have cut their own throats.

Sligo offers some fantastic restaurants, hotels and bars and shops. It is quaint, scenic and a great place for tourists to come visit for an all round break or holiday. With the mountains, lakes and coast line, caters for a lot of activities. It is a place offering the complete package apart from if you are, as so many are, a shopper and spending money. This area, I feel, is why they are missing a trick.
The chamber has done us no favours whatsoever and may have damaged it for good. Some big Retail names wanted to come to Sligo and were blocked by them. Big names bring people and money.
Maybe instead of panicking about what fraction of an income a 1000 people spend coming through their doors, they might have considered what would happen if over 3 times that did?
We may never know.
Instead, on a site on the edge of town, where big companies applied to come in and were refused, we now have a regular "Circus" in town. This says it all.

How to improve Sligo!

Comments