Bunting anger at Delamont

SIR, — With the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations over I would like the chairman of Down District Council to offer a written apology to the wardens of the Camping and Caravan Club site at Delamont Country Park.

The Camping and Caravan Club is open to all who may wish to become members. There are no exceptions.

During the extra long weekend break covering the Diamond Jubilee Holiday the Camping and Caravan club decided to try and break a Guinness World Record. This was to be a nationwide event covering all of the club sites within Europe.

To advertise the event as something special Club sites would add some additional bunting — two single lengths from the head of the Club flag pole to the ground — nothing more, nothing less. This was well within the Camping and Caravan Club site in the members only area.

Shortly after the erection of these two single lines of bunting, a member of the Delamont Country Park staff, employed by Down District Council, asked the Camping and Caravan Club wardens to remove the two lengths of additional bunting. This was duly complied with, leaving only the Club Flag on the pole.

The wardens were both shocked and surprised at this request.

I consider this behaviour by Down District Council to be unforgivable.

Tourism is an essential part of our economy and as a regular visitor to the Delamont Camping and Caravan site I know only too well how many visitors use this facility. 

Over the Diamond Jubilee break the site was packed and there were visitors from Scotland, England as well as the locals north and south. This facility generates money for the local area and that should not be overlooked or forgotten.

When I go to Delamont I go to enjoy the area and the people I meet. I am not interested in the colour of their skin or the God they worship; I accept them for what they are and treat them as equals.

This Guinness record breaking attempt had nothing to do with Down District Council.

Why interfere? It was none of your business and on private property. The Camping and Caravan Club rent this site so surely they are entitled to do as they like within the law?

The membership was causing no offence to anyone in attempting to break a world record.

There are times when Down District Council needs to turn a blind eye to things that they may not like and this was one of them. Your behaviour was offensive to say the least.

If on the other hand you feel you had a right to do this, then allow me to suggest you put your money where your objection is.

For the past five plus years the membership of the Camping and Caravan club have been promised improvements to overcome the flooding which regularly takes place on the site after heavy rain. Are you as interested in this improvement to the club site as you are about removing two string of flags? Clearly you are not.

Tourism generates money and that money helps your local economy. But Down Council appears to be the sort of authority which wants people to eat flags for breakfast.

Yours etc.,

JAMES MOWAT,

Belfast.