Having attended the UDC meeting on Monday last , I feel I have no option but to inform you of some of the things that
went on .All the Councillors were entirely supportive of the Market being moved back to the Short Quay , and the Health and Safety issues being dealt with as speedily as possible.
It was also noted that the normal way for a health and safety issue to be handled would have been for the Market to have been made aware of the issues and given a week to address them .
Instead we were given 24 hours notice of closure ,and refused sight of the H and S report. I have still not been given a copy , so that we can start to address the issues.
Ms Mary Ryan then proceeded to give her views on the matter , which included an assertion that I had agreed to relocate the market to the Back Glen , which was patently untrue,
and to wonder whether we all as Traders had tax clearance certificates, which is entirely outside her remit, and frankly insulting,and she did not seem to be aware that we all have to be registered with the Envirenmental Health Authority , and are inspected regularly,when she complained that because the market was run by me , she didn't know if the Traders were safe.
She then announced that she was not prepared to go to jail over the H and S issues, which I find somewhat ridiculous.
Having watched her attitude to the wishes of the Councillors, and to the people of Kinsale , and being aware that she lives in Co.Clare , I fail to see how she can continue to act in the best interests of a town she knows nothing about , and quite obviously cares less , and I would humbly suggest that we need a Manager who is more sympathetic to the needs of Kinsale
These moves of the last 2 weeks have resulted in direct losses of approx 20,000 euros to the Traders in the Market at a time when we can ill afford it , but we are now relocated to the Town car park, for the winter and hopefully can continue to trade without interruption
Yours Sincerely Miles Cattell
l would like to add to this Miles. Just to put Mary Ryans mind at rest. We pay taxes just like everybody else as we are registered businesses. We don't just throw afew things in the back of a van and turn up to the market on a Tuesday hoping to make some money.
ReplyDeleteThose of us who sell hot or ready to go food also deal with the largest festivals and events in the city, county and also around the country. Included in trading these festivals is all the paperwork necessary for Health and satety, PPS numbers, insurance certs, fire safety inspections. We operate in the middle of Cork city regularly and with this come inspections by all of the above mentioned.
Also the comment passed at the town meeting but her was "l don't know who these people are", comes as abit of a suprise considering that there has been a file at the council office since the market started over 3 years ago with all our particulars and insurance details
As food producers we also must be registered with the local health board.
So as the town manager,who really should know her business when it comes to a market in her own town, a grasp of all things local is paramount, a quick glance at the tourist brochure and weekly newsletter on a drive down from Clare wont keep you up to date.
l make myself available to discuss these matters as l am at the Market every Tuesday.
Regards
Mark Price
The Crepe Man