UUP and DUP in clash over fees

Councillor Richard Holmes said it was ‘unreasonable of the DUP to oppose a modest inflation linked increase’.

“Yet again the DUP’s staggering lack of understanding of business needs has been exposed,” said Cllr Holmes following the meeting.

“For the third year in a row, the DUP asked local ratepayers to subsidise caravan owners and undercut the private sector.

“Council-owned caravan parks need to be run on a sound commercial footing and planned redevelopment spend needs to happen urgently to ensure we maintain a viable facility and income for the longer term.

“But when we have a waiting list for caravan sites,it is unreasonable of the DUP to oppose a modest inflation- linked increase.

“Ironically, the DUP were proposing a lower percentage increase for the caravan parks than they proposed for the rate payers of Coleraine earlier this year.

“At that stage, they opposed the Ulster Unionist campaign to freeze the rates.

“At a time when home owners and businesses in the Borough continue to face economic hardship, we have to take a sensible approach to council-owned facilities and price accordingly.”