Traders welcome facelift

TRADERS have welcomed painting work to give a facelift to the Spencer Road and Carlisle Road areas of Londonderry.

Derry City Council said it has made funds available in order to bring a more vibrant facade to the key routes in and out of the city centre.

Over fifty properties will have received a facelift by the time the work is completed in about two to three weeks time.

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Approximately thirty properties on Spencer Road are included in the painting project, and traders on Spencer Road have welcomed the move.

Damien Lynch, who sits on the board of the Spencer Road Traders Association and is proprietor of the Spar shop said: "It is not before time. It is great to see some money being spent on Spencer Road, with the amount we are spending on rates. We have no parking, we could be doing with improved lighting, but on the plus side it is nice to see the council doing something for Spencer Road.

"At least they are trying to do something positive. We need all the help we can get because the overheads are massive. This should tidy the place up. It is a breath of fresh air, it is unprecedented. We would like to see more being done with the street lighting and the parking and we hope it is not just a drop in the ocean."

Edward McGloon of Spencer Framing said: "We have only been here about four weeks and we definitely think it livens the whole place up, it makes it look more clean. It shows a bit of though about Spencer Road. It looked shabby before but now the tone of the place has been upped by one hundred per cent. Hopefully this can increase business in Spencer Road. Maybe small businesses will be more inclined to come into the town now if it looks better. I think it is connected to the City of Culture, that is what everybody is talking about.

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"That is what it is for. I think it is great and it is only going to happen once. The rates could put you out of business in your first year, before you become established. It is very hard to get set up in your first year and anything that helps is welcome."

Gary O'Kane, the proprietor of Home Appliance Care on Spencer Road said: "It is good what they are doing and it does improve the look of the place but I think the money might have been put to better use, such as improving the parking issues or the possibility of lowering the rates."

A spokesperson for Derry City Council said: "The council has embarked on a painting initiative in the Carlisle Road and Spencer Road areas of the city. The environmental improvement initiative is part of the Economic Development's independent retailer's programme. The Spencer Road and Carlisle Road areas were identified as key to project as they are primary routes both to and through the commercial core of the City.

"The scheme is operational following a process of both consultation and surveys of properties for inclusion in the scheme. Over 50 properties have been approved for the scheme, 33 on Spencer Road and 20 on Carlisle Road. The works comprises the redecoration of the street facade of the properties identified, with the aim of promoting a more pleasant and welcoming environment."

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