WORK is due to start next month on a £1.9m leisure trail around Enniskillen which, when completed by the end of March next year, will provide an attractive riverside walk around three quarters of the town.
The scheme has attracted £1,615,000 from the Department for Social Development, and £300,000 from Fermanagh District Council.
Robert Gibson, the council’s acting chief executive, had a hands-on role in the project as director of environmental services. He said the scheme is part of the Enniskillen Masterplan prepared by the council in conjunction with DSD.
“The new trail will run from Enniskillen Castle (at Castle Street) right along the River Erne, behind the Lakeland Forum, connecting with the Erneside Shopping Centre bridge area and finally proceeding under Wellington Road bridge on to the Queen Elizabeth Road until the Queen Street Roundabout.”
He added: “It is a nice project which will present that area in a nicer way than it is at the moment. For instance, the path there is fairly old and has been repaired over a number of years. It is well used at present, but this will create an attractive walk, with seats, and there will be an ‘events’ area as well.”
The events area will be located on the castle side of the small 3G pitch, catering for on-water sports such as canoe polo and wake boarding and, on land, tug-o-war competitions, the start of the annual 10k run and the Fermanagh branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
The Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland said his Department’s funding would regenerate the Castle Basin area of Enniskillen.
“This project will provide greater physical connectivity right across the island town as the new trail will enable both residents and visitors to walk approximately three-quarters of the way around Enniskillen.”
The minister said the provision of an extensive riverside walkway and events area would ‘significantly’ increase the attractiveness of Fermanagh for visitors.
“It will accommodate more outdoor events that will help to diversify the town centre’s economy and sustain activity.
“This investment in Enniskillen is a fundamental part of our strategy to deliver the economic regeneration of the town centre and ensure that it remains vital and viable for the future. This scheme will be a further step in the delivery of the Enniskillen Masterplan and will play an important role in the revitalisation of the town centre.”
The DUP MLA Arlene Foster welcomed the £1.9million scheme.
She said: “Enniskillen and the wider Fermanagh region has seen benefits flowing from last year’s G8 in terms of tourist numbers, and anything which improves the physical appearance of the town will obviously assist in drawing even greater numbers of people to come and stay in our town.
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