A LEITRIM councillor has called on Fermanagh’s roads to be upgraded to the same level as those in the South, saying it would be “a win win” by attracting more visitors to both counties.
Cllr Sean McDermott was speaking as it was announced the planned realignment of the Sligo stretch of the N16 had been given the green light.
The news comes as work continues on the same route at Manorhamilton in Leitrim, meaning the entire southern stretch of the main Enniskillen-Sligo road is set to be completely upgraded in the coming years, while there are no such similar plans for the Fermanagh stretch of the road.
Cllr McDermott said the Sligo improvements will improve journey times between the two county towns, and would be a boost to the economy of both.
“It will take a lot more people in, there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “The A4 is an important part of that corridor from Enniskillen to Sligo as well.
“I have no doubt that with the work that took place in Leitrim and the work that’s going to take place in Sligo in the coming years, if Fermanagh stepped up to the plate we would far more people going through that corridor and it would be a win-win situation, whether it be tourism or for business.”
Cllr McDermott added: “If you have a good realignment of the N16 in Sligo and Leitrim, then you come to the border with Fermanagh and go from Belcoo to Enniskillen, there will be a bottle neck there.
“For me the onus is on Fermanagh now. We all have an interest in this.”
It’s not just the roads either. Cllr McDermott said while development of the Enniskillen-Sligo Greenway was progressing south of the border, where they are building “demonstration sections”, the same couldn’t be said for the northern stretch.
“Again, it would be great to see a demonstration section somewhere between Belcoo and Enniskillen,” he said. “It’s important because that’s how we’re going to push this project forward, but having demonstration sections, then you just fill the gaps in.”
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