The public are 'p****d off' - Former Kilkenny Mayor claims

The erection of ‘rogue’ plastic signage on shopfronts in Kilkenny has been hammered by former Mayor of Kilkenny City and Fine Gael councillor, David Fitzgerald, claiming the public are ‘p****d off’.

The comments follow the passing of a motion put forward by Labour councillor, Sean Ó hArgáin, who called on Kilkenny County Council to enforce its policy on ‘traditional shopfronts’ at Friday’s meeting of the Kilkenny Municipal District.

The installation of a new shopfront in the city centre in recent weeks has caused much outrage and debate surrounding local authority rules on plastic and corriboard signage.

“We need to clearly state that plastic and corriboard signage will no longer be acceptable and that tacky, plastic decal, stick-on signage should be removed,” Mr Ó hArgáin said, his frustration echoed by fellow councillors.

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Cllr Fitzgerald described the rise in plastic shopfronts as a ‘total failure in enforcement’ on the part of Kilkenny County Council, adding, it was time for the local authority ‘to stand up to the plate’ and take ‘ownership’ of the situation.

Cllr Fitzgerald, who contested the most recent General and Seanad Elections, and has been a member of the local authority since 2009, said: “Many people open premises unaware (of the shop front policy) because they look around at others doing the same.”

For the past number of years, Kilkenny County Council, has a publicly available guide to their signage policy. However, a number of high profile businesses have failed to take this into account before sign installation.

Full coverage and reaction in this week's Kilkenny People