Gorey business owners will be contacted as soon as contracts are awarded for town centre works

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Officials from Wexford County Council (WCC) have promised to meet with Gorey business owners “the minute” a contractor is appointed for the works on Esmonde Street. Confirming that licensing agreements had been signed with Irish Rail and the ESB, Gorey district manager Anita McLoughlin said she would personally go and meet business owners to discuss the impact the works will have on them as soon as a start date had been confirmed.

“We’re hoping to appoint the contractor very shortly,” she said at the monthly meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD). ”The minute that happens we will go out and meet the businesses, the works will start four weeks from when the contracts are awarded. We’re hoping to go out immediately (to talk to them) which will give them time to prepare.”

The works, which were due to commence last year but were held over to avoid disrupting Christmas trading, will include upgraded footpaths, cycle lanes and road surfaces, as well as new street furniture.

Given the expected impact on some of the town’s businesses, Cathaoirleach Donal Kenny said it was “critical” the council liaised with those directly affected by the works.

“If they’re getting one word from us and another from someone else it just confuses things, they need to know exactly what the timeline is.”

The works are expected to take 9-12 months to complete.