DESPITE a proposal put forward to stall funds for the West End Centre in Enniskillen, the Council voted in favour of adding £100,356 towards the construction work of the new centre. 

 

A site for the project which is costing over £400,350 located in the Windmill Road area of Enniskillen, had planning permission granted in October last year. The new community centre met strong local opposition, with a petition garnering over 200 signatures. 

 

In a move towards a new community centre, premises had been leased on the Sligo Road, for a two year period which was further extended in March 31, funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme. The community centre is to serve community groups from Windmill Heights, Coleshill and Galliagh Park who agreed to form the West End Partnership and work together as a cross community group to help manage the new centre. 

 

An offer of a maximum £300,000 in funding was granted by DSD, which left the Council to consider if they could meet the additional £100,356 cost and any expenditure after the transfer of DSD functions to Council in March 2016. 

 

Recognising the need for a new centre, Cllr Howard Thornton proposed that the council stall the plans until assurances were given that funding would remain in place. 

 

“It is not the site I would have chosen. My concern is that there is no commitment from the DSD. There is a lot of if’s, but’s and however’s. – This has been dragging on.”

 

Recognising the need for the centre he added that the council needed to look at the full cost of the project in order to make a decision.

Cllr Robert Irvine agreed with his party colleague saying, “This community centre is meant to bring the community together, instead it is actually driving a wedge. Looking at the funding there would be a deficit and it would be prudent of the council to secure facts and figures before making a judgement. We as a council need to be sure about what we are getting into.”

 

Cllr Debbie Coyle rejected the proposal saying, “We have worked hard to secure this funding, so it would be ridiculous if the council decided to make a U-turn. I don’t know where this has all come from.”

 

Cllr Patricia Rodgers noted that the Council would need to “press on” for fear of losing funding allocated by DSD. 

 

Chief Executive Brenden Hegarty pointed out that in previous meetings the council had agreed to move the process forward, “A few months ago we thought there was no money – If we say tonight to the DSD that the council can’t commit their answer will be ‘no’. 

 

“Examine the amount of work that has been done to get to this stage. We have raised community expectations. The current venue is not sustainable and there is a risk that there will be no venue and we will undo will the work that has been done.”

 

Cllr Debbie Coyle’s proposal to continue with the project was passed with 20 for, 12 against and one abstention.