NAVAN DERELICTION: 'Flower Hill can bloom again' says Barney McMahon

With empty buildings a major proplem for businesses and residents on Flower Hill, local businessman Barney McMahon has called for a regeneration scheme for the area.
The owner of Flower Hill Furniture said that derelict and vacant buildings were not good for business.
“If it is allowed to deteriorate any further, people won't want to come up here,” he warned.

Mr McMahon (below) said there were some people squatting in the vacant houses and it has lead to some anti-social behaviour.
“I would like to see something done about the vacant buildings. There should be some kind of regeneration programme for the area.
“A lot of the buildings up here are residential and if they were done up it would look a lot better.

“It cannot do business any good to have so many empty buildings around. If you are driving up the hill, you'd ask yourself, where am I going?”
He said the council should spend a bit more to keep the area right.
“We are doing reasonable business. We have a good loyal customer base and we have taken on an extra member of staff. I don't want to be too negative. Flower Hill has given me a living, but if it continues to deteriorate, people won’t want to come here,” he said.