NEXT YEAR looks set to be one of traffic mayhem in Enniskillen with a number of major infrastructure projects lined up, starting in January and lasting right through until 2020.
From January 7th, as part of the Gas to the West project, SGN Natural Gas will begin seven months of work in the town. This will be followed by electrical work by NIE. Both projects are being rolled out for the first half of the year to make way for another major project the begins in August, the much-anticipated £5.2 million Enniskillen Public Realm Scheme.
While all involved in the projects, from SGN Gas to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, have stressed they will be doing all they can to minimise the inevitable disruption, but said disruption will be inevitable. In a town that has previously been brought to a standstill by much smaller projects, 2019 looks set to be a year of yet more Enniskillen gridlock.
“It is recognised that these works will be disruptive for the town generally, but in particular the business community,” said a spokesman in a recent report to the Council on the planned utility projects.
Cllr Debbie Coyle is the chairman of the Enniskillen Public Realm steering group. She explained the gas and electricity projects, that would have otherwise been carried out in the coming years not months, had been brought forward to tie in with the Public Realm Scheme, which will see the town transformed.
She added lots more work and collaboration had been happening in the background.
As for the Public Realm Scheme, she said: “It’s going to be done in a phased way, so we will have as little disruption as possible. There will be disruption, but the end result will definitely be worth it.”
She added: “We’re trying to minimise the disruption to shoppers, business and tourists as much as we can. Obviously we would advise people that it would be quicker to go around the town, or park on the outskirts and walk up the town, depending.”
Cllr Paul Blake, who is in the steering group, also said the disruption “will be worth the return.” He added he believed the disruption would be “minimal.”
“Just be patient,” he advised motorists. “It’s unfortunate that because we live on an island any kind of thing like this will always cause disruption. It’ll be worth it in the end. It will be a great opportunity for the town to really lift itself and sell itself.”
John Treacy is manager of Fermanagh Enterprise. He said he felt local businesses were very welcoming of the planned projects, particular Gas to the West and the Public Realm.
“I think businesses are practical enough to acknowledge and realise there will be some disruption in the period the work is happening. That’s unavoidable,” he said.
“I’m very confident businesses will be able to work around it and customers will understand it’s a short term inconvenience for a very significant long term gain. It’s great to see it, it’s very necessary work.”
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Posted: 4:54 pm December 30, 2018