To the editor,

As an almost 50-year resident and taxpayer of Bristol, and a recent deck hand on the Prudence Island ferry, I would like to comment on the ongoing parking struggles that Prudence Island commuters are facing.

Even though these folks pay property taxes to the Town of Portsmouth, they have become an integral part of the Bristol community and economy. Let’s not forget the value that they add when they shop in our stores, frequent our restaurants, shops and bars. They regularly purchase heating oil, gasoline, beer, wine and liquor, not to mention take-out pizza. They also depend on our medical services and pharmacies for their health care needs. These commuters are not wealthy out of towners, but hard-working teachers, carpenters, fishermen, restaurants workers and laborers.

I urge the Town of Bristol leadership to work earnestly with their Portsmouth counterparts to come up with a quick and fair solution to this problem. So much has been spent recently to improve our waterfront. The ferry landing, and the people who use it, are a vital part of that improvement.

Dr. Thomas Enright
129 Poppasquash Rd.