Christmas fair 'restricted" shoppers in Navan, traders complain

Navan"s first Christmas fair received a less than enthusiastic reception from some local traders who felt it had taken up valuable car-parking spaces on the busiest pre-holiday shopping weekend. While Navan"s Mayor, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons, was happy with the response from families and children to the town"s first outdoor Christmas Fair at Kennedy Place last weekend, retailers have taken issue with traffic and delivery restrictions imposed on the opening day and the effects on 'walking trade' into their shops. One businesswoman at the section of Kennedy Place where the fair was located said her outlet had 'no walking trade' when the event was going on, although it was the weekend before Christmas. Darina Doyle of Game Bandits, a computer games business, said business had been down by 50 per cent compared with the same weekend in 2008. Christmas in 2007 had been a bad one as work on the Kennedy Place Civic Space still was going on, he added. The secretary of Navan Retailers" Association, Francis Deane, said his members had no objections at all to the concept of a Christmas Fair. However, Mr Deane said that there had not been 'proper communication' with the retailers about the arrangements for the fair at Kennedy Place from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st December. The dates chosen, on the weekend before Christmas, and the location did not find favour with Mr Deane. The owner of the Singer shop at Kennedy Place, Joe Rafter, also was unhappy that there had been 'absolutely no consultation' with him or his neighbouring retailers regarding the logistics of the fair. Mr Rafter said he had assumed the stalls for the Christmas fair would be located along the wall where there are steps leading down from Kennedy Road/Navan Shopping Centre. 'It would not have interfered with any shop and we would not have lost any car-parking spaces,' he said. However, this was not where the stalls had been located but nearer to the shops. He said that a courier vehicle delivering sewing machines to his shop had been stopped from coming in and had to deliver them to his private house about five miles out the country later on in the day. Mr Rafter said he believed the fair had interfered with the flow of people to the shops. Navan"s mayor said they had arranged to have a perspex stall for those taking part in the fair. When this did not arrive, a marquee-type facility was used. As in the first attempt at most ventures, some 'teething problems' had arisen, he admitted. Cllr Fitzsimons said he would hate to think that traders were restricted in any way or if any delivery had been interfered with. Cllr Fitzsimons said he had seen thousands of people enjoying themselves. The moving crib with animals from local farmers had been most popular, raising money for the Stillbirth Association. The visitors to the fair were entertained at different times by the choir of 30 pupils from St Ultan"s Special School, Flower Hill, Navan; the National Foresters" Band, the Tara Ladies" Choir and Navan Silver Band. The mayor thanked all these people and paid tribute to Navan Chamber of Commerce under its president, Mary Sadlier, for helping with this new Christmas venture for the town. Joint organisers Navan Town Council and Navan Chamber, in a statement, said they were delighted with the success of the Christmas Market and the nativity crib with live animals. Despite wet weather conditions, visitors enjoyed browsing the many stands of crafts and food while enjoying a glass of mulled wine or warm apple juice. The nativity crib with live animals was a special attraction. A specially constructed life-size stable was built by local builder Matthew Lee, and all materials were kindly donated by Commons Hardware. Navan Chamber hopes to make this an annual event.