A Fianna Fail Councillor is calling on Waterford people to "make a date" with the City Centre.
Eddie Mulligan says commerce in Waterford City is on a 'knife edge' at present, but that the tide is beginning to turn.
“We are on the cusp of some monumental change with imminent investment being nurtured for the North Quays, City Centre and Cork Road areas. However, the local economy is still very fragile and many City Centre businesses are continuing to report that trade is a challenge.”
Cllr. Mulligan says that he has been attending too many of the “wrong type of meetings” lately.
“I’d much prefer to be attending meetings with outside investors, talking about Waterford’s massive potential, instead I’ve been meeting with current big name retailers, trying to convince them to stay, and see out this difficult time in the city,”
He says that he doesn't see the closure of businesses, such as Sam McCauley's in the City as an obstacle to attracting new companies.
"We have had people who've spoke about Waterford's spending power and footfall," he said, "but I can assure that that is a situation which is changing."
