Pana: Footfall up, numbers down

Traders say numbers are down in spite of news emerging this week that footfall has increased by two per cent on Leeside from August-November 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.

Neil Murphy, owner of Con Murphy’s Menswear on St Patrick’s Street told the Cork Independent that the traffic ban is making it far too difficult for people to come into the city.

He said: “Ask any retailer, footfall is certainly not up. It's down, no question about it. We're finding it very difficult. The whole thing is crazy. Coming into Cork city is now a huge hassle.

“We're battling online shopping and we're battling Cork City Council. When times are tough, you need your council on your side. Unfortunately they're not.”

Mr Murphy said that the Patrick’s Street traffic ban is failing because the correct infrastructure was not in place before it began. He said: “I'd have no problem with the pedestrianisation of Patrick’s Street; cities have to evolve, but you must have a plan B in place, and park & ride was the answer, but it never came.

“There's never been such a void between traders and the City Hall.”

Shauna McGowan, Manager of Ecco Shoes on Princes Street, had a similar outlook, saying that numbers in the store are down from this time last year. “Our numbers are down compared to last year. We don't feel we have increased footfall,” she told the Cork Independent.

She added: “On Princes Street we've seen some shops around us close, and some set to close in the next few months. I think the ban is having a negative effect.”

Ms McGowan said that she doesn’t feel the traffic ban should be scrapped, but that it should be looked at again. “I think it needs to be adjusted, maybe buses need to be increased. I just don't think it's working,” she added.

Head of Infrastructure Development at Cork City Council Gerry O’Beirne, said: “In relation to pedestrian activity, members will recall that pedestrian counters were installed to record movement on the street since start of August 2018 and that since then pedestrian activity has been maintained within a consistent range.

“The year on year data for the period August, September, October and November of 2018 versus 2019 shows that pedestrian movement has increased by circa two per cent.”

He added that about 300,000 people have visited St Patrick’s Street since August.

The news on footfall numbers came to light at a Cork City Council meeting this week after Labour Cllr John Maher asked for an update on the so called ‘Pana ban’, which is in operation from 3-6.30pm daily.

However, Cllr Maher said that he didn’t think the ‘Pana ban’ was working, while adding that more needed to be done to stop people from flouting the rules which stops private vehicles using St Patrick’s Street during the three and a half hour regime.