A FERMANAGH Ulster Unionist councillor has expressed concern about the disparity between the amounts being paid by Omagh and Enniskillen towards the erection of Christmas lights.
Alex Baird was speaking at a meeting of the Fermanagh and Omagh Council last week.
The Council decided to accept an offer of £4,000 from Enniskillen BID Ltd as full payment towards the Christmas lights.
But Cllr Baird called for an equitable contribution from the town towns when it emerged that businesses in Omagh would only be paying £875 towards the lights.
His comments provoked a strong response from councillors in Omagh.
Dr Josephine Deehan said the two towns could not be dealt with in an equitable manner.
“Enniskillen currently benefits from a very significant tourist and crossborder trade that Omagh does not enjoy,” she said.
“We are all very aware of the pressures that exist for businesses and I am confident that the contributed that has been received from the Omagh traders has not been made without considerable sacrifices.
“I want to make the point just in case there is a belief that the traders in Omagh have not entered into the spirit of Christmas.”
DUP councillor, Errol Thompson, told the meeting that he had no doubt that the respective contributions would become more equitable when an Omagh BIDs Ltd was established.
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