A group representing over 90 per cent of businesses in the Old City area of Dublin's Temple Bar have secured a seat on the Board of Temple Bar Properties.
At last night's meeting of Dublin City Council, a majority of members requested Dublin City Manager Mr John Fitzgerald appoint an elected representative from the Old City Traders Group and, similarly, a resident of the area to the board.
Welcoming the decision, Ms Mairéad Foley, chairperson of the Old City Traders, says the group expects that the city manager will move swiftly to implement the decision in advance of the next Board meeting of Temple Bar Properties.
Over one-third of the businesses in the Old City area have failed since the development was officially launched in March 2001.
The €7.6 million Viking Adventure centre, also located in the Old City, has been vacant since October 2001, except for temporary tenants.
Ms Foley said although casualties would be expected in any such development, "this is an extraordinarily high level of failure and is directly attributable to a lack of footfall resulting primarily from the area having no identity to the outside world."
The Old City borders Lord Edward Street, a main thoroughfare in and out of the City and also on one of the main tourist routes stretching from Trinity College to the cathedrals to the Guinness store.