A Newry and Mourne loyalty card would be a practical and innovative way of stimulating the local economy. Councillor Pat McGinn told Newry and Mourne Council that such a card would yield on-the-ground results and show traders in the district that the council was behind them writes Martin Hearty. “Local businesses are the glue that binds this community together,” he told the council. “This card would be a practical and innovative way to generate wealth, employment and opportunity in the area. It’s a very simple premise. If you shop locally and support local participating businesses they will reward you with unique offers and deals. If we can sit down with the various businesses and chambers of commerce across the district and work this out it will be good for businesses from Culloville, Crossmaglen and Camlough through to Newry, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and Kilkeel. Business owners tell me that they feel like the council is taking their rates and not doing anything for them. This si something practical the council can do to help traders and says to hard pressed retailers that we are listening.” A number of councillors raided concerned about how the card would work in relation to other cards such as those offered by large supermarkets, elderly charities or student unions. However when it came to a vote the council almost unanimously backed the proposal with just one abstention. The council’s Director of Administration Eddy Curtis said the council would get to work on the proposal immediately. “We will work on this as a matter of emergency and report back to you at the next meeting,” he said. These schemes have been very successful in other places so there is no reason it won’t work here. We will contact businesses and organisations and see about any funding that may be available. We are going to get this going as soon as possible. The council will meet with Newry Chamber of Commerce this week to discuss the finer points of the proposal and the practical aspects of implementing the scheme. A spokeswoman from the chamber said they were keen to find out more about the loyalty card. “Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade would welcome any incentives such as the Newry and Mourne loyalty card to promote shopping local,” she said. “Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade will be meeting with Newry and Mourne District Council representatives in the coming weeks to discuss the introduction of a loyalty card.”
Newry Democrat
18th December 2012
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