A LETTER that has been sent to retailers in Enniskillen for years asking for a donation towards Christmas lights has caused outrage among traders in Omagh this year.
The letter, which has been described as poorly worded and lacking “festive cheer”, was sent to both towns for the first time this year after Fermanagh District Council was merged with Omagh District Council in April.
Businesses in Enniskillen had been asked to provide a donation, based on the value of their premises, towards the cost of the town’s lights in previous years. However until this year Omagh traders were not requested to make the contribution.
Upon receiving the request for a contribution last month, which included a deadline for donations highlighted in bold type, Omagh retailers contacted their local councillors and took to social media to voice their unhappiness with the tone of the Council’s letter.
Speaking at the December meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council at the Townhall in Enniskillen last week, Omagh Councillor Joanne Donnelly said the wording of the letter was “harsh.” She asked the Council to “put a bit more festive cheer” into their correspondence with the public, and be more selective with their wording.
“We need to be careful as if we keep going the way we’re going people will not see us as approachable,” said Cllr Donnelly. Fellow Omagh Councillor Sorcha McAnespy added the letter had “gone viral” on Facebook and was a poor reflection on the Council.
Alison McCullagh, director or regeneration and planning, said the same letter had been sent to Omagh as had been sent to Enniskillen, and the Council had never received any complaints regarding the request.
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