Businesses say 'no' to rates increase

THE Enniskillen Business Partnership, as part of their fight against the pending merger with Omagh district council, and the prospect of higher rates for Fermanagh ratepayers, were due to meet Environment Minister Alex Attwood at Stormont to voice their concerns.

Discussions with the Minister, who, ironically, had supported the 15-council model that would have left Fermanagh untouched, centred  on plans which his office are making to address the rates’ imbalance once the merger kicks in.

One string in the Partnership’s is its desire is to have the new Fermanagh/Omagh council’s offices located in Enniskillen.

Its spokesman, Joe Kelly said his members (they represent the traders in Enniskillen) were increasingly worried by the  alarming rate at which public sector jobs are being taken out of the County.

“Our current predicament is completely unacceptable. The situation we’re going to face is inconceivable, it could even be an issue of a breach of human rights.

“The proposed amalgamation could plunge us back into a regional feud so, hopefully the powers at be will see to a solution. We’re just shopkeepers and chefs, surely it is the Department’s job to sort this out.”