Wells residents asked about proposed May Day Bank Holiday shift by John Penrose MP
By Wells_Jaqui | Wednesday, April 06, 2011, 16:36
John Penrose MP visits Wells, photo by jonryanphotography.co.uk
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">John Penrose MP, Tourism
and Heritage Minister and Conservative Member of Parliament for
Weston-Super-Mare visited Wells on Saturday to meet locals and canvass opinion
about the government’s proposal to abolish the May Day bank holiday and replace
it with a “UK Day” bank holiday, to take place either in April or in the
autumn.
Ministers are drawing up
plans to reduce the cluster of bank holidays currently occurring in May and
instead create a national holiday in April or later in the year. Proposals
include the creation of a patriotic St. George’s Day in April or alternatively
to create a Trafalgar Day bank holiday in October, in celebration of the
anniversary of Nelson’s naval victory of 21 October 1805.
John Penrose MP, together
with Conservative councillors and district council candidates, canvassed
opinions from shoppers.
Due to be published next
month, the government’s plans will generate a national debate which will give
the nation the opportunity to voice their opinion of the proposed bank holiday
shift.
The tourism industry has
long been in favour of extending the tourism season by creating either an April
or an October bank holiday, but unions and employers in other sectors have
opposed the idea.
“Tourism is an integral
part of the south west, and the city of Wells plays a pivotal part in drawing
thousands of visitors to this part of the country every year,” stated John
Penrose MP. “The proposal to replace May Day with a nationalistic UK Day ether
in April or in the autumn will not only extend the Somerset tourism season but
also provide a focus to celebrate the best of Britain and promote British
interests worldwide to encourage more visitors to our beautiful nation, and in
particular to the south west.”
If implemented, the new
bank holiday would be introduced in 2013. This year an extra bank holiday is
scheduled for 29 April in celebration of the Royal Wedding, and next year there
will be an additional bank holiday in respect of the Diamond Jubilee.
Comments
Why can't they leave May Day as it is and have another Bank Holiday around November 11......?
Tourism would be negatively impacted in many parts of the country if the May Day Bank Holiday were removed as many 'Jack in the Green' festivals take place over that weekend and on the Bank Holiday itself: these festivals draw tourists into small villages as well as to larger places such as Hastings etc.
With all that's going on in our country, I can't see why our Government is choosing to focus on this ......unless they are viewing the May Day Bank Holiday purely in it's guise as a 'Socialist' day......
May Day has it's roots in the traditional history and culture of our country and is steeped in folklore, it was a day of festivities in villages around the country long before it was anything else.
When are the traditions and culture of England going to be protected and encouraged..............?
By SarahJW at 08:59 on 07/04/11
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