Main Pic: Letterkenny Chamber President Jimmy Stafford.
A group representing businesses in Letterkenny say that they are “disappointed and frustrated” with the lack of communication from Gardaí about the level of policing at a series of protests on Saturday.
The Letterkenny Chamber has made the statement after a large anti-immigration protest and a counter anti-racism protest took place in the town yesterday afternoon.
They say that businesses were not notified ahead of time that the Letterkenny Main Street would be closed to traffic from 10am.
“While Letterkenny Chamber and its members are pleased that the protests of the 3rd May last passed without incident, we are disappointed and frustrated at the lack of consultation with the relevant stakeholders in advance of the decision to close the Main Street to traffic at 10am that morning,” they said in a statement.
“Businesses were, of course, aware of the protests but were not notified of the 10am road closure.”
The Letterkenny Chamber has also expressed their disappointment at a perceived lack of consultation regarding the closure of such an important shopping street on the Saturday of a bank holiday weekend.
“The Chamber and our members support the right to protest, promote free speech and clearly understand that the Gardai have a duty to protect the public. However, we represent the business community and our members’ concerns do not appear to have been taken into account. This was a bank holiday weekend when businesses should have been busy but very little business was done.”
They have also responded to claims on social media regarding the decision to shut the street to traffic.
“To clarify, Letterkenny Chamber was not involved in the decision making process leading to the closure of the Main Street, as was suggested on social media. The retailers were simply advised there would be no parking and were unaware of the level of policing operation required.”
Letterkenny Chamber President Jimmy Stafford has also hit out at the lack of communication with businesses regarding the policing plan on such a crucial weekend in their calendar.
“This protest has resulted in next to no business being done on the Saturday of a bank holiday weekend and has impacted the wider retail areas outside of the Main Street, including the retail parks and the shopping centres,” Jimmy said.
“Retailers were handed leaflets on Friday afternoon stating that there would be no parking but they were not informed there would be no traffic allowed from 10am the following day. As a consequence, anyone wanting to come in to town was restricted.”
