TOWN CENTRE 'CONTROVERSY' PROMPTS MAY FAIR TALKS CALL
A DROMORE councillor is urging comprehensive discussions ahead of this year's upcoming Dromore May Fair, amid what she called "controversy" over the event being held in the town centre.
Councillor Carol Black's call came at a recent council committee meeting where it was reported that discussions had been held with Dromore High School about the use of its car park for the Fair; the school was said to be supportive of the proposal.
Ulster Unionist, Ms. Black, said there had been a lot of controversy regarding the Fair being held in the town centre and she requested that community groups be involved in discussions with representatives from primary schools, nursery schools and parents.
Prior to going to Press The Leader was unable to get in touch with Councillor Black to ask the nature of the controversy to which she referred or what might be the scope of the discussions she has requested.
Dromore May Fair is now one of a number of events held annually in and around the town centre, others including the newly revived Civic Week - immediately preceeding the May Fair - and the November Fair.
The Dromore In Action group, heavily involved in local events, won lavish praise for last year's Civic Week, but offered its own hint of dissent in the wake of the November Fair.
Soon after the November event the group's Mrs. Helen McFadden offered praise for town traders who supported it and a suggestion for those who didn't.
"To the one or two businesspeople who always complain about the fair," she said at the time, "perhaps if they would join in the fun of the fair it would mean more benefit for their businesses."
Mrs. McFadden said a big 'thank-you' went to all the other businesses for supporting what was otherwise a "very successful" event
Historically there have been a number of town centre traders who have protested that, far from boosting business, the annual round of civic events torpedoes trade.
Undeterred, organisers continue in their efforts to make the various events bigger and better each year.
Indeed it was more recently reported that Dromore In Action had met with the man behind crowd-pullers including Belfast's 'Tall Ships' as it planned major new events of its own.
The organiser of highlights such as Fermanagh's 'Lady of the Lake Festival' sat in on a meeting of the local action group's newly formed events sub-committee, lending his ear and expertise to plans for a continental market and a large-scale outdoor concert.
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Weather for Dromore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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