Miraculous permits
As one or two of you may have noticed, I was down in Cork recently.
I was heading to a pub on the mainstreet of the local town when I noticed something.
Outside the pub on the pavement were a couple of tables and matching chairs. I like that as it makes the place look open and inviting.
There was a notice pasted in the window of the pub in the form of a letter. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so you'll have to just take my word for it.
The notice was a letter from the County Council informing the pub that tables and chairs were not allowed to be placed on the pavement unless the pub had a permit. It informed the owners that said furniture was to be removed immediately as it was causing an obstruction to the safe passage of pedestrians. In other words, this was just another example of highway [or at least, footpath] robbery by the council who wanted their drop of blood.
Two things stuck me about this notice.
One was that there was no need to place it in such a prominent position if the "permit" had been bought, so it looked to me like this was a perfect example of two fingers to the council. The pub had been given seven days to comply, and it was dated around four weeks ago. Needless to say, they got my business – lovely food served on a patio out the back in blazing sunshine.
The other thing that struck me was that the Council were bitching about the lack of permit and the obstruction caused by said furniture. So presumably, if a permit had been obtained, the furniture could be freely placed on the pavement and it somehow miraculously doesn't cause an obstruction?
How the fuck does that work?
Grandad,
Over the years, (of decline), many pubs closed on the main street of Cork City, (Patrick Street), until today there is only one remaining pub there. "The Chateau" which is owned by the canny Reidy family use an area outside which is equal to the floor area of the pub and they have put chairs and tables with umbrellas there. In conversation with Dan Reidy about this he told me that he trebled his daily takings since its introduction but half of this was paid in a license fee to the City Council for the privilege. It is, as you wisely pointed out, a racket by the legalized thieves in authority who live like parasites on the bums of the profit-making operations nationwide.
Of course it's legalised theft. The councils know damn well that it's good for business and it is yet another opportunity for them to dip their greedy little fingers.
On a sunny day, who wants to be sitting indoors if there is seating outside? Of course smokers are forced out there whether there is seating or not, so it pays the pubs to provide a facility. So essentially the law forces people outside and then taxes the business on the foot of that.
Feck the officiousness of these local authorities. I sympathise with family enterprises like the pub in West Cork whose proprietors try to attract summer visitors by placing tables, chairs and colourful umbrellas on the pavement. Ireland's summer weather is erratic unlike continental sunny weather. In July and August we get some spells of sunshine, so let's pretend we can enjoy drinking and dining al fresco like the continentals. Come on, let's welcome the brave domestic tourists who want to discover Ireland's no-fuss summer charms and let's give a Russian bear hug to the British, Continental and Yank visitors who come looking for the same natural hospitality. I hope that West Cork publican continues to give his local authority the two-fingers sign. I love the charming little towns along the West Cork-East Kerry jagged coastline. Feck authority and support small and medium enterprise.
I read this the other day.
A little boy in Ireland was kidnapped.
The kidnappers sent him home with a ransom note.
His mother sent him back with the money.
Any truth in it?
Ah, an invisible comment. I like those. It shows tremendous sophistication on the part of the person making the comment.
And actions speak louder than words?
Hey GD, glad you enjoyed the trip down. Definitely got the timing right on the weather 🙂 I've many a time traversed the Schull pavements and not once have I ever tripped over a chair or table, or felt impeded in any way. If the council perseveres with this bullshit reckon West Cork should declare itself independent!
Have a listen to this – great spirit trying to keep a local bar going against the odds.