Red coats look set to be deployed in Enniskillen’s free car parks in a bid to tackle motorhome owners who are using the car parks as overnight accommodation. 

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council officials have recommended that councillors give the go-ahead to employing traffic attendants to enforce the Off-Street Car Parking Order within the Council’s free car parks. 
The move comes following a number of complaints to the Council from caravan site owners.

Parking a motorhome to go shopping or to visit a tourist site is permitted. However, a person is not permitted to use any part of a parking place for sleeping or camping; eating or cooking; or for servicing or washing any vehicle.

A report to FODC’s Environmental Services Committee stated: “The Council do not want to discourage motorhome owners from using the free car parks for general parking for shopping and tourism purposes however the Council car parks are not designed as Caravan Parks. There are numerous conditions relating to health and safety issues which apply to Caravan sites which are not possible to achieve in the Council’s car parks.”

The report continues: “The Council’s insurance would not cover the use of the car parks as overnight accommodation for motorhome users. There are a number of caravan parks within the district with suitable facilities for caravan and motorhome owners and these users should be encouraged to use these facilities. A list of caravan sites may be found by visiting the Fermanagh Visitor Information Centre or the Omagh Tourist information Centre.”
Costs will be incurred because FODC will have to erect signs in all the non-charged car parks  stating: ‘No Overnight Parking’. In addition, extra traffic attendant hours will have to be paid.

The current Agency Agreement between the Council and Transport (NI) covers the enforcement of the Pay and Display car parks by NSL Group Services, who are the Department’s Service Provider; however enforcement can be extended to the free car parks on specific instruction by the Council. 
Meanwhile, the Royal Mint’s decision to bring a new one pound coin into circulation is going to cost FODC £7,600 because its 34 car park ticket machines will have to be upgraded to accept and recognise the new coin.

The new 12 sided coin resembles the old ‘threepenny bit’ and has been introduced after 30 years because of the current pound coin’s its vulnerability to sophisticated counterfeiters. 
The current pound coin will be phased out over time but can still be used in the updated machines.
These issues will be ratified at the next full council meeting.