Council is urged to tackle empty shops in Douglas

Councillors Mary Rose Desmond and Seamus McGrath looking at some of the vacant premises in Douglas village.

There is currently a 20% vacancy rate in the village — in-line with some of the highest vacancy rates in the country — despite many large retailers springing up on the periphery of the village in recent years.

“Douglas LUTS is there since 2013 and if you mentioned it to most people, they would be aware of it but they wouldn’t be able to pinpoint anything, specifically, that has been done to improve the village.