Have faith in your Island Farm Park (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Have faith in your Island Farm Park

10:21am Wednesday 20th May 2009

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Dear Editor, Mr Jenkins of the Cardigan Island Farm Park has misconstrued my letter, he very kindly corrected my erroneous belief the old coast path had been restored many months ago but ironically this is what am proposing as a part of the solution to his problems.

As he has explained, his legal action resulted in a new pathway that cuts through the centre of his business so he has the option of fencing it and dividing his business into two, or, if he leaves it, walkers have free access to the various attractions.

My suggestion is that the route of the old path is restored by putting in a gate where he had his turnstile and containing the path by running a fence parallel all the way to the entrance of the new path with a tee off point with a one way gate for his customers by the island. His customers would return by using the path to the old turnstile point and then go up the avenue formed by the fences (blocked at present by a gate with a sign ‘Patrons only’) to what was his catering area. This avenue would also be the route by which walkers, locals and visitors could make use of his catering facilities only.

A walker coming from Mwnt would have the choice of going through the Park Farm and inland or passing the island. A sign indicating refreshment facilities would be an additional incentive. Few would take the inland route.

It has always seemed apparent that free access to view Cardigan Island would destroy his business. He should have faith in his creation, through his drive it is an established tourist attraction. The thousands who visit are not going to by-pass it just to see an island. No teacher or tour operator is going to trek through the Cliff Hotel golf course with the threat of whizzing golf balls. The thousands who visit have nowhere else to park but at his establishment. His business is secure.

I understand his motives in trying to dissuade people from using the new coastal path in the proximity of his business on the grounds of statuary distance from a cliff edge and his altruistic sentiments about consequent legal claims, but he’s on thin ice regarding the latter when a few weeks ago he mentioned £5 million as a claim for damage to his business. As far as statutory distances, a safety official taking a measuring tape to parts of the Pembrokeshire Coastal path would need a month to recuperate.

Why don’t I make a fuss about there being no coastal path in my patch? It’s because I’m free to wander around there at no cost at any time!

Keith C Williams 236 Mollison Way Edgware Middx

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