Tourists who do not feel welcome here

Editorial Department • Published 3 Sep 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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Dear Sir, - I have been visiting your island town and surrounding area in Fermanagh since March 21, 1970, my wedding day and my 20th birthday. I have been coming and bringing my family and friends, and now my grandchildren (four) and of course their parents, who regularly stay in the Cedars or Riverside farm etc etc.

We, along with other camper vans contribute very much to your economy here. We meet for breakfast after 7.00am in Wetherspoons or Asda. We buy our small bread from Leslie’s bakery and our provisions from your bigger stores, our school shoes and work boots from Sloans.

We are well known in Dickies also and since we have a van and a boat on the lough, we purchase quite a lot of fuel. Our boat is registered and we pay both LoanEden (for storage) and Riverside Farm mooring fees.

We stop at the Killyhevlin or Manor House for out main evening meal most evenings, my wife and daughter use your beauty consultants and hairdressers regularly.

In inclement weather the gents find indoor pursuits, pubs etc while the ladies go elsewhere and the children are taken to your cinema.

Until recently we were very happy, this was our summer home from Easter until October. However, we were visited on Sunday, August 15 at 10.30pm advising us that we should not be parking at the Forum; this was where our boat was on this evening, and I am a disabled person with my blue badge displayed. The officer advised us that he fully understood our situation and he would check with his colleagues and return with further information, we are still waiting that outcome. Our parking at the Forum would sometimes involve overnight parking if my boat was moored there.

Most of our camper van friends have moved to more tourist friendly towns where our contribution to the economy is valued. Take Carrickfergus Harbour with electrics, where, if private vehicles park in our designated spaces they get clamped; Houston’s Mill, Broughshane, again with electrics and we get visits from local traders who welcome us and invite us to local events and churches etc etc.

We are well known in your church community here also.

Since our 2010 camping season is coming to an end, we may have to sell our boat and put more thought into our 2011 season.

It would be nice to hear from anyone interested in our plight!

Yours faithfully,

Henry and Thomas

Cunningham

Kilkeel, Co. Down.

This letter appeared in Impartial Reporter 02 Sep 10

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