Several new shops hit with huge charge
Niamh Fagan pictured in her newly-opened cafe, 'Traders Coffee House' at the bottom of Laurence Street.
NIAMH Fagan is just one of the many businesses in Drogheda who have fallen into the category of ' material change of use', bringing with it a levy to pay for the parking space a restaurant or cafe may demand.
If a trader intends on using an existing retail unit for a cafe, restaurant, or anywhere that serves food over a counter, that is considered 'change of use' and the parking levy applies, with the average starting levy € 8,500, rising to as much as € 36,000 for a unit circa 230 sqm.
Any trader though can find themselves falling into the category if they are changing a private house into a business.
'We didn't realise we would have to pay such a huge amount of money when we changed a private home into a business,' said one trader, who wished to remain anonymous.
' We were asked for over € 25,000, even though there is ample parking in our vicinity, and I couldn't figure out how they arrived at the figure and what they were going to spend it on,' he said.
'I can't help thinking it is completely contrary to attracting new business to the town.'
A current change of use application for a new restaurant in the town sees the council seeking almost €40,000 from the owner in parking levies.
'This is a prohibitive amount of money, particularly on top of rates, and you would thing the council would be encouraging new trade, not penalising them for no gain,' said a source.
' This may stop this business from actually opening, and you would think they would prefer the rates at the very least, instead of nothing at all.'
- Paul Connor Alison COMYN
