Madam, - Having returned from a visit to the Cliffs of Moher I feel that Gerard Dollard of Clare County Council (August 17th) has it all wrong with his letter trying to justify the €4 parking fees.
Now, let's see what you get for €4: a large construction site to see with lots of deep holes in the ground and modern machinery; building activities causing a high level of ear pain at times (in combination with the music along the trail up to the tower); the access to most part of the cliffs and views largely blocked by high fences; and chaos with hundreds of visitors on the way from the parking area across the road and up the one trail to the cliffs, struggling to take their photos of the scenery.
On previous visits (in 1993 and 2000) I was gladly willing to contribute to the functioning of the infrastructure necessary in such surroundings. But there was always time to enjoy the scenery.
This time, I felt angry and frustrated, asking myself whether I may just have been another victim of a new strategy of some people in the tourist business who seem merely interested in gaining large profits from their visitors.
I do not feel that it is the visitors of the Cliffs of Moher who should finance the "considerable costs of managing site" (G. Dollard). It should have been an integral part of the overall planning process to provide these financial resources.
So, be a good sport and host to the 750,000 visitors every year: Let them view the construction site - but don't punish them for that by making them pay for it! - Yours, etc,
STEFAN PAHNER, Warburg, Germany.