THE first look at the major multi-million pounds leisure complex planned for Enniskillen which is set to bring hundreds of jobs and new business to the county town has received mixed reactions.
At a public consultation yesterday (Tuesday) in Enniskillen Library, some members of the local business community were there to voice their objections and raise their concerns about the planned project.
This is in contrast to the response of the vast majority of readers commenting on the Herald’s Facebook page who were very much in favour of the new development
The proposed development on the former Unipork site off the Cornagrade Road / Irvinestown Road is understood to comprise of a three storey 65 bed hotel, five screen cinema, garden centre, restaurant and drive through food outlet, coffee pod, self service pay at pump station, six retail units and 695 car parking spaces.
It is anticipated that should the development materialise it would create a considerable number of full- and part-time jobs.
A spokesman for the Belfast-based developer, Elm Range Ltd said, “This is a retail park that deals with a completely different sector to Enniskillen town centre.
The type of operators that will be here onsite, will not be the kind of operators that would fit in the town centre.
“There is currently commercial interest – there is an occupier for the anchor tenant to be the driver for the retail site and there is interest from hoteliers and cinema operators. The smaller units gravitate towards the anchor. This is an occupier who is not in Enniskillen at the minute, but is very active in the North.”
Public opinion has been sought on the development of a cinema, retail and leisure complex and members of the public attended to voice their opinion on the proposed development.
“It has been very busy. There has been a lot of interest in the development and people are here to understand what the plans are for the site and to raise any thoughts that they have.
“It has had previous planning permission for retail on the site so the principle of it has previously been found to be acceptable,” he added.
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