Concern over plan to close Limerick's Potato Market during month of August
Market Trustee member fears loss of revenue to Milk Market
CONCERN has been expressed at Mayor John Moran’s hopes of closing the Potato Market in the city centre next month.
As part of his plans to “animate” the city centre in August, the first citizen is hoping to close off the facility at Merchant’s Quay - which is used as a car park - and bring in family friendly-activities.
However, the Potato Market is administered by the Limerick Market Trustees, who are charged with running the Milk Market nearby.
And the parking income from the Potato Market is seen as being vital to the financial viability of the Mungret Street facility.
Fine Gael councillor Olivia O’Sullivan, who is one of the Market Trustees said: “Anything that happens at the Potato Market can have a direct financial impact on the Milk Market. So we need to be really careful. The Milk Market is not self-sustaining. The income from the Potato Market is crucial to the Milk Market.”
She was speaking after a council meeting in which the mayor unveiled his plans for his first 100 days in office, with improving the city centre offering in August a key plank of this.
Cllr O’Sullivan said: “A lot of people rely on that car park - regular customers. Running any business, you'd know your regular customers are hugely important. There are people who park there regularly and pay. For them it is very important. They spend their money there, which is used to sustain the Milk Market.”
However, Mayor Moran played down the importance of the parking during the month of August - and has even said he also hopes to see the Potato Market used in a similar manner at Christmas.
“August is not a key month for them. There are some logistical issues, people who have annual parking passes, how can we find ways to accommodate them,” he suggested.
“Hopefully we can see it used again over the Christmas period when there is a downtime in the court service and the other heavy users of the area,” the mayor told reporters at a press conference.