POLICE have come under criticism after road closures following a car crash early on Saturday morning delayed commuters until the afternoon of the same day.
Roads leading to the roundabout at Enniskillen library were closed from around 2am on Saturday morning, until around 2pm.
The closures caused substantial delays for entering and leaving town, with one user describing an hour’s delay on the Shore Road leading into the town centre.
It is understood that the delay in clearing the road was due to the fact that the car involved in the crash had failed to stop for police prior to the incident. This meant that the police ombudsman were involved in the investigation – and their investigation is thought to have been partly responsible for the delay.
The Johnston Bridge roundabout at the junction with the Cornagrade Road, Queen Elizabeth Road, Queen Street and Halls Lane were closed to traffic causing substantial delays across a variety of areas.
A motorist, who was travelling on the Shore Road at around 11.30am described the traffic as ‘choc-a-bloc’.
He explained: “I was listening to the news on radio about an accident but there was vague details of detours and diversions.
“I was at Lilley’s Centra at 11.30am and was aware of incident.
“When I realised traffic was stopped I couldn’t turn as it was in a blind spot around the entrance to Portora playing fields.”
He went on: “I think if it was aware that the town was closed their could have been diversion signs up.
“Others were upset, including one car behind me bringing an animal to the vets.”
SDLP Councillor Frank Britton, for Enniskillen, added: “There were complaints about the roads being closed – I heard general comments that it was closed or a very long time. The police must have had their reasons for closing it for so long but people were obviously affected around the town.”
A police spokesman said that they were ‘aware’ of concerns by road users.
“Police are aware of concerns in relation to the duration of the closure of the road, however this was necessary to enable a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident to take place.”
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