Mohill being "gutted" by government drift policy claims Guckian

Cllr Des Guckian said that areas such as Mohill are being "gutted" due to "drift of policy from the government, the county development plan and the economic plan which is working against rural areas aiding agricultural decline and destroying places like Mohill.

He was speaking after a progress report on the Corporate Plan at the latest council meeting.

Cllr Thomas Mulligan said that in his view "there is a powerful job being done in Mohill at the moment" and stated if Cllr Guckian's comment referred to the public realm scheme he wanted to "remove myself from any comment like that" adding that he complimented the contractor on the works carried out to date. 

Cllr Guckian responded that when walking down the street of Mohill, "you are walking past any number of businesses that have closed down" adding that Fitzpatrick's pub closed recently and two other businesses are being closed. 

He continued: "It's nothing to do with public realm works, businesses are closing one after another," he said.

Joseph Gilhooly, acting Chief Executive, noted that there is "quite an investment going on in Mohill" which will improve footpaths and the experience in the town which "has been proven to be the key aspect of the further regeneration of town and villages."

He said the Local Enterprise Office as well as the tegeneration office are working actively with a Mohill town team to put a work programme in place that will help to "sustain and redevelop the business centre of the town of Mohill."