'Naas is open for business' despite closures says Co Kildare Chamber of Commerce CEO
Naas town is ‘very confident’ going into the final six months of this year, according to the CEO of Co Kildare Chamber.
Despite mounting public concerns due to several closures this year, including Mattimoes Newsagents, Donal’s Discount Store and The Foot Shop, among others, Co Kildare Chamber of Commerce says ‘Naas is open for business.”
Acknowledging that businesses have closed, CEO Allan Shine said:” New boutiques and hairdressers have and are opening along with new restaurants. Employers in our business parks are reporting to us a great start to the year with many currently recruiting staff. Our county town needs every stakeholder to shout loudly that Naas is open for business and that Naas is on a crest of a wave with so many new housing developments in construction and vibrant business parks.”
Meanwhile, Naas Regeneration Group, with Chairperson Robin Skelton, is working with Kildare County Council in a bid to get more parking allocated, so that the town can prosper into the future.
Spokesperson for the recently established Naas Regeneration Group, Mary Burke Spratt said:”There are shops opening. But more parking is needed. The closed shopping centre in the middle of the town needs to reopen. We know that there is a lot of positivity in the town, but footfall is still low and rates are high.”
The Osprey Hotel is in the process of redesigning its lobby and dining area to incorporate a 130-seat restaurant called Herald & Devoy and this will lead to the creation of 15 full time jobs. Mr Shine said:”The Chamber is confident that Lawlors Hotel will shortly receive planning for its development.
Residential developments are underway in the majority of approaches into Naas.
The Chamber is in the process of producing its pre-budget submission and the message we are getting from businesses in Naas and indeed Kildare is loud and clear; this government must invest in infrastructure to meet the demands of a modern economy, to enable business to grow and thrive and to improve the quality of life for our citizens. In order to rectify existing infrastructural deficits and in order to compete internationally Ireland must increase the level of investment in infrastructure to at least 4% of GDP. Through significantly increasing investment in key transport, broadband, housing and water projects across Kildare and Ireland, Government can ensure that the economy is resilient to potential economic shocks. Within Kildare, our population continues to increase and demand for further investment is very evident. “