Issue 2 Waterford Business Group 1 | Page Check us out on www.facebook.com/waterfordcitycentre On our dedicated shopping website www.waterfordcitycentre.ie Download our app on Apple & Android Waterford City Centre Twitter @WaterfordCityCt Welcome to the second issue of the Waterford Business Group Newsletter. In this second issue, we will update you on the latest developments in promoting Waterford City & County to become the shopping, tourist, business and recreational capital of the South East. MAKE A PLEDGE………BUY LOCAL AND SAVE 1500 JOBS IN THIS ISSUE Summer in the City Waterford City Centre Management Plan Commercial rates Purple Flag Street Ambassadors Gardening, City in Bloom & New Street Gardens Retail watch Website, App & City Voucher update This was the second year of our ‘Summer in the City’ campaign, run in conjunction with Waterford Council and ArtBeat. Starting in June and running right through to September, visitors, shoppers and families alike were treated to such acts as Bee Gees Live, Rubber Soul, Thank Funk, The Christy Moore Tribute band, to name a few, and finishing off with the hugely popular local band The Unusual Suspects. Every Friday & Saturday there was kids entertainment, with face painting, balloon modelling and Punch & Judy shows. Well done to all involved, and let’s make 2015 bigger & better! SUMMER IN THE CITY As we are all aware 2013/2014 saw Waterford City and County “revaluated” for commercial rates. Our extensive lobbying of Government throughout 2013 and in particular our close interaction with Minister Hogan allowed for an equalisation of the ARV across the City and County in line with the amalgamation. The revaluation process means that Commercial Rates will NOT change for 2015. However, we must not stop lobbying for further rates reductions as in 2016 we could potentially see a reversal of this downward trend. The new amalgamated budgets will see commercial rates collection of circa €32,000,000 with the City contributing circa €19,000,000 towards that income figures. Thus, it is essential that our members keep feeding and engaging with us in this fundamental issue so that we can ALL drive the cost of operating a business down across the City and County. 2015 COMMERCIAL RATES CAMPAIGN WATERFORD – A SUIR THING! TM AUTUMN 2014
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Waterford Business Group, Newsletter Autumn/Winter 2014
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Issue 2 Waterford Business Group
1 | P a g e
Check us out on
www.facebook.com/waterfordcitycentre
On our dedicated shopping website
www.waterfordcitycentre.ie
Download our app on Apple & Android
Waterford City Centre
Twitter @WaterfordCityCt
Welcome to the second issue of the Waterford Business Group Newsletter.
In this second issue, we will update you on the latest developments in
promoting Waterford City & County to become the shopping, tourist,
business and recreational capital of the South East.
MAKE A PLEDGE………BUY LOCAL AND SAVE 1500 JOBS
IN THIS ISSUE
Summer in the City Waterford City Centre Management Plan
Commercial rates Purple Flag
Street Ambassadors Gardening, City in Bloom & New Street Gardens
Retail watch Website, App & City Voucher update
This was the second year of our ‘Summer in the City’ campaign, run in conjunction
with Waterford Council and ArtBeat. Starting in June and running right through to
September, visitors, shoppers and families alike were treated to such acts as Bee Gees
Live, Rubber Soul, Thank Funk, The Christy Moore Tribute band, to name a few, and
finishing off with the hugely popular local band The Unusual Suspects. Every Friday &
Saturday there was kids entertainment, with face painting, balloon modelling and
Punch & Judy shows. Well done to all involved, and let’s make 2015 bigger & better!
SUMMER IN THE CITY
As we are all aware 2013/2014 saw Waterford City and County “revaluated” for commercial rates. Our extensive
lobbying of Government throughout 2013 and in particular our close interaction with Minister Hogan allowed for an
equalisation of the ARV across the City and County in line with the amalgamation.
The revaluation process means that Commercial Rates will NOT change for 2015.
However, we must not stop lobbying for further rates reductions as in 2016 we could potentially see a reversal of this
downward trend. The new amalgamated budgets will see commercial rates collection of circa €32,000,000 with the City
contributing circa €19,000,000 towards that income figures. Thus, it is essential that our members keep feeding and
engaging with us in this fundamental issue so that we can ALL drive the cost of operating a business down across the
City and County.
2015 COMMERCIAL RATES CAMPAIGN
WATERFORD – A SUIR THING! TM AUTUMN 2014
Issue 2 Waterford Business Group
2 | P a g e
We are aware of the issue of shoplifting in Waterford City and would urge all
business owners to be vigilant in their premises and on the streets. The
Gardai have been very open and helpful over the last few months in trying to
get this situation under control. Along with the Street Ambassador scheme,
and the Purple Flag initiative, we would hope that we can remove shoplifters
from our shops. If you see any incidences of crime, or any suspicious
behaviour, please don’t hesitate to contact your street ambassador, or the
Guards through the following contact details. We would also encourage
EVERY business owner to register with Retail Watch, which has been very
successful in targeting shoplifters in recent months.
RETAIL WATCH AND CONTACT DETAILS
Numbers of note:
Garda Station, Ballybricken
051 305370/051 305371
Gda. Alan White (City Centre Garda)
086 8282703
Retail Watch (text alert) 086 3708355 (text
to register your details) or indeed if you
want to make us aware of any issues
directly, contact your street ambassador or
Waterford Business Group member
directly (see contact details below).
The Waterford Business Group was delighted to see our Chair, Eddie Mulligan, elected as a new and first time
candidate to the Waterford City and County Council. Eddie was elected following a short, but very targeted, five
week campaign that drew support from all the member businesses right across the City and County. The Group is
the only representative member group, in the City and County, that now has a political endorsement. On behalf
of the Group and its many members we wish Cllr. Mulligan our wholehearted congratulations and pledge that
we will support him in every way to deliver jobs, jobs and more jobs to the City and County and put Waterford
back on the map as the economic hub of the South East.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLLR. EDDIE MULLIGAN
contact for the many city centre business. The Ambassadors will liaise directly with and through Anne Marie Coade,
(Waterford Business Group Management Committee Member), who will report to the larger group meeting on a weekly
basis.
The Street Ambassador scheme will ultimately help us make a better and safer City, which must be everyone’s definitive
goal. With future projects such as the Purple Flag, the need for Street Ambassadors will be invaluable to the City’s
application and implementation of this initiative.
The Street Ambassadors include, Anne Marie Coade (Waterford Hearing Services, Stephen St.), Fiona Quilty (Pamela Scott,
Georges St.), George Kehoe (Occasions, The Quay), Declan Conway (City Jewellers, Arundel Sq.), Edel Murphy (Urban Hype,
John St.), Eamon Barrett (Altitude, Ballybricken), Mark Deevy (Deevys, Parnell St.), Gerry O’Carroll (Photographer, Mayors
Walk), Peter Jones (Foot Solutions, Michael St.), Brian Tynan (Sam McCauleys, Broad St.), Cormac Cronin (Bodega, John St.),
Amy Kelly (Shades, Ferrybank) & David Cunningham (Fresh Food Hall, Michael St.).
We would welcome new street ambassadors; if you would like to get involved, please contact Anne-Marie Coade on 086