A brave driver chances driving through the flood at Enniskillen bus station a few weeks ago RMG10
FLOOD waters at the Lakeland Forum and Enniskillen Bus Station have finally subsided after weeks of inconvenience to motorists, pedestrians and local businesses.
Up until Saturday past the flood waters between the entrance to the leisure centre and bus station were up to a foot deep and a number of motorists had been caught out in their cars, having to be pulled to safety.
Among those inconvenienced was Charlotte Wilson, manager of Fermanagh Visitor Information Centre, based just off the Wellington Road beside the flooded area.
“It has been annoying,” Mrs Wilson admitted. “It’s been hard getting in and out, it’s a bit like trying to get around an obstacle course.
Because I drive a jeep and it’s a bit higher I was thankfully able to reverse up the back door of the office.
“I’m sure it would have affected the Forum as I did see quite a few cars struggling through the water to get through the forum gates. I know people going to the (Royal British) Legion had trouble getting in and there’s a few classes on there for example Weightwatchers. People would have had to come through a wee side entrance between the tourist office and the legion. They would have had to come down that to get in the front or else wear wellies.”
A DARD spokesman commented: “Rivers Agency is aware of the flooding outside Enniskillen bus station and the entrance to Lakeland Forum leisure centre. The flooding is due to the surface levels at both these locations being lower than the water levels currently in Lough Erne.
As the water level in the lough recedes the problem should be resolved.
“At this stage as there is no impediment to the safe passage of essential traffic or threat of flooding to the properties at these locations therefore redeployment of Rivers Agency staff from the protection of essential infrastructure such as Derrychara Link would not be appropriate. Rivers Agency continues to monitor the situation and will respond to any flooding incident at these locations should this situation change.”
DARD confirmed that the issue at the Lakeland Forum had been raised by local people, businesses and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and previously discussed at frequent Inter-agency conference calls.
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