Lorries took it slow as they passed through the floods RMG14
THE flooding conditions in Fermanagh over the last number of weeks have played havoc with local businesses, none more so than Quinn Building Products.
Liam McCaffrey , the director of Quinn Building Products Limited, Ballyconnell Road, Derrylin explained that both staff and deliveries have been affected by the many road closures due to the floods, including the main Lisnaskea to Derrylin Road.
“We have an awful lot of staff coming from Lisnaskea direction and across by Share every day so they’re having to detour right around by Enniskillen. Staff from Roslea or Newtownbutler around that direction they have had to come around by Wattlebridge or Belturbet. For a lot of them it’s adding about an hour a day to their commute.”
In terms of deliveries there have also been problems, with diversions in place due to the floods and particular problems on the main road between Lisnaskea and Derrylin.
“It’s not been passable all of the time, but it is now again for lorries. That (road) has been by far the most problematic one for us.”
Mr McCaffrey added: “It’s mainly impacted on staff by an hour a day, that’s five hours a week so it’s a lot of their time taken up. It’s had an impact on deliveries, but I think that’s resolved now, I think they’re getting through.”
Fermanagh GAA player Niall Cassidy from Roslea, who works for the Quinn firm, explained that on the Monday night after the initial floods he was forced to travel home via Enniskillen, adding
an extra half an hour to his journey.
“I’ve been travelling via Belturbet from then since to get to work , I haven’t been fit to go back the normal road since. It’s a 20 minute drive extra on to my journey. I would normally get home at 6pm, but now it’s around 20 past.
“There’s a lot of people coming in every morning asking ‘how’s the flood now?’ It’s alright for the boys in the jeeps and the lorries who say it’s good you could pass through it, but I’m just not going to chance my car through it. People are saying now you could get through it, but no one wants to chance it, no one wants their car wrecked in the mouth of Christmas.”
He added: “It’s very frustrating especially as you have to go so far to see the flood and if you see you can’t pass it then it is a right spin back. I’m just going to go by Belturbet until I’m sure it’s clear.”
A spokesman said that the roads that are currently flooded in Fermanagh by the Lough Erne system are likely to remain flooded until there is a significant drop in the Lough water levels.
“Unfortunately, it is not possible to accurately predict when these levels will drop as the weather forecast gives continuing rainfall and a wet outlook over the coming days. Transport NI will continue to monitor the situation and post updates as roads reopen.”
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