Shock at 300 empty business premises

THE scale of the economic devastation wreaked on the economy of Limavady Borough has been revealed by the hundreds of former business premises now lying empty. The Sentinel can reveal that there are around 300 properties once used for business which are now vacant, in a sign of just how much damage the difficult economic circumstances are causing to commerce in the area.

DUP MP for East Londonderry Gregory Campbell expressed “surprise” at the high number of empty non-domestic properties. He said that a combination of out-of-town retail centres, high rates and what he calls “the unfortunate rise in online shopping” was making life difficult for traders in small towns such as Limavady. The local MP added, however, that programmes such as the small business rates-relief scheme were helping to alleviate the difficulties faced by businesses in the Limavady Borough and elsewhere.

The Mayor of Limavady described the figure, which was released by Finance Minister Sammy Wilson, as “shocking” and urged people to become more pro-active to address the situation.

UUP Councillor Edwin Stevenson said the figures paint a “scary picture”, and added that while people were aware of the economic problems, he still thought the sheer number of vacant premises was “a surprise.”

The full list of the “unoccupied non-domestic properties” in the Limavady Borough Council area was released by the Minister of Finance and Personnel in response to questioning from an Alliance Party MLA.

The list shows a total of 299 unused business properties, including ten factories, 49 offices, six licensed premises and 67 shops, showrooms and supermarkets now empty, with premises such as warehouses, workshops and garages making up the rest of the total.

Speaking to the Sentinel, DUP man Gregory Campbell said: “I think that in recent weeks there has been quite a campaign building on empty premises.

“Small Business Rates-relief has went some way to alleviating the problems. The Finance Minister is going to have to look at expanding that. Quite a number of towns, and Limavady is one of them, are facing problems with the numbers of empty premises.

“With the out-of-town retail centres, rates and the unfortunate rise in online shopping this is something we have sadly been seeing more of. Some of those things you can try and do something about – some of those things you can’t.

“I think, like others, that I would be surprised by the figures. It is an issue like this, that the rates relief scheme is aimed at. It only helps a few businesses at the minute, but it is something that can be expanded.”

Mayor of Limavady and Sinn Féin man Sean McGlinchey believes that despite the “shocking” figures, a pro-active approach can help improve the economy of the Borough.

He said: “I’m fed up listening to people complaining about what we need. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, and it is not a personal crusade, but I want people to take the initiative themselves. If you look at what they did in Derry, the pressure they were able to put on to save the railway – they managed to get the decision reversed altogether.

“Those figures from Sammy Wilson are shocking - 300 empty business properties. I can tell you another set of figures that are shocking. If you look at the amount of money put in to the area over the years compared to other places, that would shock you as well.”

UUP Councillor Edwin Stevenson blamed high rates and rents on the difficulties facing small businesses.

He said: “Well, 300 empty business premises does surprise me. Everybody knows it’s bad, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as that. A lot of these small businesses, once they go empty it would be very difficult to get them back. It’s very sad that when a young family starts a small business, they are finding it so difficult.

“It is a scary picture. Rents are another issue. A lot of these properties used by small businesses are being rented, and the rents are too high. A lot of the landlords maybe have to ask themselves if they want to lower rents or if they want to see their properties empty.”