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Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Closure of Bray-Greystones cliff walk has ‘cost the economy €73m'
More than €73 million has been lost to the economy – equating to more than €50,000 a day – because of the continuing closure of the cliff walk between Bray and Greystones , Co Wicklow, economist Jim Power has said. Mr Power, an economic adviser to the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation and a financial commentator, estimated the loss to the economy included €21 million that would have gone to the Exchequer in taxes. The 7km cliff walk, developed in the 1840s as an access route for workers building the railway line, was, until its closure in February 2021, one of the most popular walks on Ireland's east coast. At its highest point it rises to about 100m above sea level. However, following the collapse of a section of boulder clay on the Greystones side and a rockfall further towards Bray, the walk was closed on a temporary basis. READ MORE Wicklow County Council put barriers at either end of the route and advertised an alternative walk, some of which was on the main Bray to Greystones road before climbing the head and emerging at a landmark cross overlooking Bray seafront. However, as time passed and the cliff walk remained closed, local traders expressed concern at the lack of business. 'The closure hit us immediately. I would say we were first in the firing line, and then it hit everyone else,' said Nigel Spendlove, who runs a coffee shop at Greystones harbour. Nigel Spendlove at Spendlove's coffee shop in Greystones. Photograph: Tim O'Brien Claire Cullen, who runs The Fat Fox cafe and cake shop on Trafalgar Road, Greystones, said the closure had cost her '500 customers a week. That is 2,000 customers a month – it is a lot for any business to take'.. Local group Friends of the Cliff Walk commissioned Mr Power to carry out an economic study of the economic cost of the closure. As part of the overall figure of €73 million, Mr Power estimated losses to local shops, restaurants and coffee shops at €4 million, based on yearly spending by walkers of €3.5 million. Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Power said he had relied on Fáilte Ireland reports on visitor spending, figures for the numbers of people previously walking the cliff walk and his own interviews with businesses in the area among other sources. He said that according to Fáilte Ireland figures overseas visitors would typically spend €105 each a day, domestic visitors would be spending €92 daily and local walkers would spend about €10. He said recent analysis showed 10 per cent of visitors on the walk were from overseas, 40 per cent would be domestic visitors and the rest locals. Using official figures showing 350,000 visitors in the last year the walk was open, the annual spend was €18.4 million. With the walk now closed four years that loss amounted to €73 million overall, he said. He said the impact on the economies of Bray and Greystones has been 'very significant'. 'If we assume the average spend locally is €10 per visitor, the overall spend locally would be €3.5 million. This would support 77 jobs in tourism and hospitality in the local area. Assuming an average wage of €20,000, this would equate to a wage injection of €1.54 million into the local economy,' he said at the launch of his report on Tuesday in Greystones. Wicklow County Council said it was in the process of appointing consultants to advise 'short-term and long-term solutions to address the issues with sections of the walk that have already collapsed or are about to collapse'. The council said it had 'identified unsafe sections, reluctantly closed them, and signposted alternative routes around the collapsed sections of the cliff walk'. It said it was also working to identify funding for the work.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kingswood businesses ask council to rethink parking charges
Businesses owners have warned that new parking charges pose a "significant threat" to the future of their independent Gloucestershire Council introduced the car park charges across its area on 19 May covering 08:00 until 18:00, Monday to businesses on Kingswood High Street have come together to write an open letter asking the council to re-think the move, which sees drivers charged 70p for the first hour in short stay car parks, rising to £5 for up to four member for communities and local place, Sean Rhodes, said the council needed to bring in the charges due to the £2m black hole in the council's budget. Parking in long-stay car-parks range from £3 for the first four hours, up to £5 for six Tadghighi owns Quest Boutique, which has been in Kingswood for 40 years, and said she has already seen a loss to her business."Figures have gone down in the last few days," she said. "I've had customers coming in saying they can't spend more time [here]."They're always going to be watching the clock. The high-street will die. "We want to stay, we want to give something to the community but it's like they [the council] don't want a high street anymore." In the open letter traders said that "numerous local residents have voiced their frustration... stating that they will now travel to neighbouring areas where free parking is still available". "This shift in shopping behaviour poses a significant threat to the viability of Kingswood's independent High Street businesses," they Carter manages the Market Café Longue and indoor market on Regent's Street and is a contributor to the told BBC Radio Bristol that she was "so despondent" reading messages from the public who do not want to visit Kingswood with the changes in place."I hope by putting our message across as the business owners that we [show] we care," she said. "We want it to be better and this is really going to have a negative impact on us." Mr Rhodes acknowledged the letter and said the council continues to work closely with local businesses on the regeneration of the said the council has engaged with businesses "all the way" through the process, adding that the charges are low compared to Bristol."We really wrangled over the cost of this for a long time and that's why we settled on what I think is a relatively low price," he said."Councils across the country are really up against it financially."When we came into administration we were left with a £2m annual revenue generation budget line from the previous conservative administration."
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Fury as iconic market that's the ‘heart & soul of tiny UK village's economy' is suddenly AXED by airport chiefs
LOCALS have slammed the decision to shut down the "heart and soul" of their tiny village's livelihood. Airport bosses have scrapped the weekend market held at an airfield in Thanet, Kent. 4 4 The iconic stalls, set up at Manston Airport, had been popular with the community since opening last year. The owners made their devastating announcement on social media this week. In an "important notice" on Facebook, Stevens Markets wrote: "Market closed permanently. "It comes with great sadness that we have had to stop operating at the Manston airfield market. "I just want to say a huge thank you to all the supporters out there. "That stuck with us when everyone else was going against us. It means a lot and you can continue to follow our journey with bray markets. "All traders that paid a two week deposit, we will be refunding this to you and we will give you more information on how to get this back in due course." The statement appears to blame Thanet District Council for rejecting planning permission applications. But, it has now been reported it was due to the airport - not the local authority. However, it has subsequently emerged the decision was actually taken by the airport itself and not Thanet District Council. The Viking Centre: Britain's first American-style mall faces demolition Fans and residents hailed the market and penned messages of support. "What a sad day for everyone," wrote one under the Facebook statement. "Wow I'm gutted loved coming up there," another agreed. A third added: "Oh my god that's terrible enjoyed going there every weekend, met some really nice traders." An independent trader wrote: "I'm absolutely gutted! Hands down this market saved my business! I have absolutely no words." "No I'm crying, this is so sad," echoed another. Heartbroken Les Stevens, of Stevens Markets, told KentOnline: 'Planning had been going through but then we got a memo from the airport saying we had to cease trading. "I have no idea why. But it wasn't the council as we first believed. 'I was in Turkey at the time and had just been told planning wasn't granted.' A spokesperson for Thanet District Council said: 'The market needs planning permission to continue to operate on the Manston Airport site. Council officers contacted the operator and requested a planning application, to change the use of the land. 'To date, an application has not been received and therefore no application has been rejected.' The thriving market was heaving every week and Lee Stevens added how they are looking for a new location. It is understood there may be two sites in consideration, with one being close to Manston. Stallholders have also been told they will be given their deposits back. Airport execs made the move as they continue with development on the airfield. It is understood to be considering two sites - at least one of which is close to Manston. A spokesperson for airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) said: 'Manston Airport and the operators of the Saturday market have decided to part company by mutual consent. "It is understood that the market is now pursuing other sites in east Kent.' 4 4
