Francis Maguire pictured outside his Today’s local shop in Teemore where business has almost come to a halt due to work on road passing the shop.
A FERMANAGH shop is in danger of closure, leaving a family’s livelihood at risk, due to ongoing roadworks that is diverting traffic.
Franci Maguire, who runs ‘Maguire’s’ conveniance store in Teemore, along with his wife Bernadette, has spoken this week of how repairs to Derrylaney bridge is causing a loss of ‘between 50% and 75%’ in trade for the family-run business.
The work began on July 15, and Francis has reported a hefty loss in trade over the past two weeks.
“I would say our business is down between 50% and 75%. It’s very noticeable,” explained Francis.
The 57-year-old has been running the business for the past three and a half years.
“It is only a small convenicance store, but it’s our livlihood – and they’re closing us down.
“We’re having to dispose of stock at the minute, we’d do a bit of food but it’s not selling. People are not coming in.”
The work is to be completed by November 8, around 16 weeks, according to Roads Service, however, Francis said that there is no guarantee that will be the case.
“It could go into 24 weeks, who knows? I envisage it gettting a lot worse. I feel livid. It’s our livlihood, it’s our bread and butter, that’s the bottom line. What way am I going to pay the bills?”
Danny Kennedy, roads minister, when the roadworks were announced, said: “An assessment of the structure has determined that it no longer meets present day loading requirements. The works will entail removal of the existing bridge deck and replacing it with a wider structure which will also accommodate carriageway widening.”
When contacted by the Fermanagh Herald regarding Mr Maguire’s issues, a roads service spokesman said: “The work on site is proceeding to schedule and Roads Service will endeavour to reduce the duration of the road closure, however, at this early stage it is not possible to guarantee that this will be possible.”
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