Leitrim County Council has expressed concern that Longford's upgraded retail strategy should complement and not conflict with guidelines governing retail development in the smaller county.

The Leitrim council has pointed out that any changes in retail strategy should be in accordance with the Midland Regional Planning Guidelines. And the National Roads Authority has also expressed concern about planned changes, claiming any move to zone more land for edge-oftown developments could have a detrimental impact on the roads network.

Longford County Council has in turn advised the Leitrim authority : "The relevant planning guidelines will not have a negative effect on the viability of retail activity within Leitrim."

The Longford authority is concerned at the number of local people choosing to shop in nearby towns with more high-profile retail units.

According to a local survey, 2,564 of 7,000 shoppers recently interviewed at the Golden Island shopping centre in Athlone were from Longford.

"Longford town is dying on its feet and we should do what we can to stop the flow of people out of the town, " says local councillor Paul Connell.