Rafter Street - Oh dear!!

I refer to my post of June 5th where I warned of the pedestrianised street not being fit for purpose and sadly I was right. Yesterday, I noted that one of the pedestrian beacons had been knocked over as I predicted in my previous post. Today I went up and took some more pics of the state that the new surface has already got into - these are only a few - I'll say no more but a picture paints a thousand words. What's to be done? Click on pics to enlarge.

Enniscorthy still in the grip of recession!

Sadly these days it seems as fast a new business opens up in town then another closes. The latest victim is the "Inspire" shoe boutique opposite St.Aidan's Cathedral. Many business premises throughout the town are undergoing facelifts at present and, as usual, "Reid's Off Licence" on Main Street is head and shoulders above the rest. Meanwhile a defunct pub in Templeshannon (The Arches?) has been reborn as "Wilson's Bar" and if the exterior is anything to go by it should be a decent venue. "Stamp's" on the Market Square is currently being repainted and taken as a whole the town has not looked better in the last ten years.

Tidy Towns Judging Time draws near!

Pics above taken today 24/6/11 show the Viewing Point on Millpark Road - what must visitors think?

Compare them to my pics here: http://countywexford.blogspot.com/2009/03/enniscorthy-town-with-no-shame-part-ii.html taken in March 2009 (!) - click on pics to enlarge.

Still basking in the glow of a 'job well done' (Rafter Street, Slaney Street and the new bridge on the Promenade) - Enniscorthy Town Council still seem to be incapable of getting the basics right. As repeatedly highlighted here since I started this blog back in 2009 the following locations remain in a disgraceful condition:

1) The children's playgrounds near the Riverside Park Hotel.

2) The seating along the Promenade.

3) The 'award winning' viewing point on the Mill Park Road

4) The seat right outside the Council offices in the Market Square!

There's more but that was all that I had time to check on today.

Thumbs down for Rafter Street pedestrianisation

The long awaited completion of the pedestrianisation of Enniscorthy's Rafter Street took place this weekend and it's even worse than I had feared. The bright new paving is already on its way to being filthy despite being power washed on Friday - fit for purpose it is not. Gum, dog poo and vomit were already in evidence this morning. Other marking possibly grease (?) is also in evidence and is going to get far worse once vehicular traffic starts using the street again. It's pedestrianisation but not as we know it. New crossing beacons, halfway up the street will surely be hit by a delivery vehicle before too long.

Enniscorthy has become the latest town centre to be hit by the stainless steel plague. Pointless, over intrusive signage proclaiming that Enniscorthy is an historic town make a mockery of the very statement. Enniscorthy is in good company as Cork's Patrick Street and Waterford City Centre have already succumbed. Somebody is making a pile of money selling this 'avant-garde' street furniture to gullible local authorities. The trees, some of which appear unhealthy are another matter and I won't comment until I find definitive information. A phalanx of dalek like new bins cap off the whole mess and look they were sourced from Ikea or a local hardware shop.

The best that can be said is that it's a slight improvement over what was there previously but at what cost and how long will it last? Some pictures here but you need to visit the street before you make up your own mind. Incidentally still not a drop of paint for the seat outside the council office.

Click on pics to enlarge.

Businesses need to put their best foot foward.

Three examples of Enniscorthy business premises and how they present themselves. The first is a Polish (?) foodstore on the Market Square which despite its recent repaint still presents an unwelcoming appearance. Several women that I have spoken to said that not being able to see into the shop from outside is a major no-no and they feel intimidated by it. Despite being male I have the same feeling and thus have never crossed the threshold. So, a lot done but perhaps more to do?

Next up is Patsy O'Connor's Heating & Plumbing premises on Irish Street - recently repainted - which is a model of how 'less is more' and is now one of the most attractive frontages in town.

Back on Main Street "Zanadu" has also recently been repainted in a bold and attractive colour scheme - way to go! It's just a pity that the council don't officially encourage good design/painting as far too many premises merge into each other in an off-white/magnolia blur. I suppose given the indifferent way their own building in the Market Square is presented it's hardly surprising that they are not taking a lead in good design.

Cold wind of recession still blowing through Enniscorthy

Three shops - one closed - two on their way. The boarded up shop is the former 'head' shop in Slaney Place. The "Spring Design" gift shop has been on Main Street for quite a while and it's a pity to see it closing at a time when the town's tourist trade may be on the turn. "Eurogirl" is only a recently opened business on Slaney Street and was possibly in the wrong place at the wrong time.