PORTADOWN'S traders spelt out an emphatic message to Craigavon Borough Council on the future of the town during a packed meeting at the Millennium Court on Tuesday night.
The traders voted to request an immediate meeting with top council officials in a desperate bid to prevent Portadown’s town centre manager post being shelved.
Councillors will vote on Monday night on whether or not Portadown and Lurgan’s town cent
re managers should become one post based at Craigavon Civic Centre. The manager would have responsibility for the two towns and central Craigavon.
The Portadown Times understands that a delegation from the town will meet Mayor Meta Crozier on Monday afternoon to discuss the issue.
During Tuesday’s two-hour meeting, a number of other subjects were debated, with heavy criticism aimed at traffic attendants who traders insist are driving shoppers away from Portadown. There were also dire warnings about the potential impact of a proposed new Tesco store in central Craigavon on the future of the town centre.
There is mounting speculation that traders are fighting a losing battle on the town centre manager issue however, with one trader claiming that DUP and Sinn Fein councillors have already made up their minds o n the issue. No Sinn Fein councillor attended the meeting and Councillor Robert Smith was the DUP’s sole representative.
Brian Irwin, chairman of the town centre management committee, insisted a last-ditch bid should still be mounted to save themanager’s post. And if the post remains, Mr Irwin insists the manager’s promotional budget should be substantially increased.
“We have to request a meeting with the top officials, so we can emphasise that we want to see a town centre manager based in the town,” said Mr Irwin. “We will also stress that we want to see promotional money for the post increased from its current level of £50,000.”
Mr Irwin’s views were supported vocally by traders. Tracey Jackson, manager of High Street Mall, said, “It would be a backward step if the manager was moved out to Craigavon with responsibility for Lurgan as well as Rushmere Shopping Centre. There should be a job here for a full-time town centre manager, we need one to move forward, and we can’t let Portadown be neglected once again.”
Brian Walker, chairman of Portadown 2000, said a town centre manager would only be effective if they are based in Portadown, where they would have face- to-face contact with traders on a daily basis.
He said, “Portadown 2000 does not mind who employs them but what we do worry about is where the town centre manager will be based and what their responsibilities will be. The council want one person to manage three town centres and we say that would be a backward step. It’s crucial that the town has its own manager, based in Portadown, where they can provide help and advice to traders.”
What way should councillors vote tonight? Does the town need its own town centre manager? Text us your views to 81800, starting your message with PTTEXT and then a space.
