Trade impacted but Dundalk business owners remain positive amid Clanbrassil Street works

The ongoing rejuvenation works on Clanbrassil Street has had a real and visible impact on trade, business owners on the street told the Dundalk Democrat, but overall they welcome the rejuvenation and the speed at which the work is being completed.

The Democrat spoke to a number of the businesses on Clanbrassil Street today, who are presently being directly affected by the works.

One boutique owner whose shop is almost surrounded by barriers, said that business has been really quiet but she was very impressed with the speed at which the work was being done, and remained positive about the works and the value they would bring.

"We just want to get the message out there that we are still open for business, there is still plenty of parking in Boyd's (Clanbrassil Centre) Car Park and the Backhouses' Car Park for customers", the local business owner said. 

The overriding sentiment of those the Democrat spoke to this morning was upbeat and positive. Each business owner who spoke said that the speed at which the work was moving, as well as the willingness of the work contractors to engage with the business owners, were making the impact much easier to deal with.

One business owner said that if it wasn't for a number of appointments that had already been booked for that week, there would have been virtually no trade at all. In spite of this however, they remained positive remarking again that the contractors were working very quickly and were very easy to deal with.

"I used to give out about the state of the footpath out there everyday", another business owner said, "now that they're fixing it, you can't really complain, it will be worth it in the end".