DISAPPOINTING but not surprising was how one Councillor summed up Transport NI’s decision that only road defects of “the highest priority” will be fixed in Fermanagh at the moment. 
Road issues such as traffic congestion in Enniskillen, a disappearing mini roundabout in Clabby, non existent work in Brookeborough and “jacuzzi sized potholes” in Boho were discussed at Tuesday night’s meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. 
The discussion at Enniskillen Townhall was sparked after Transport NI wrote to the Council in what Chief Executive Brendan Hegarty said “made bleak reading.”
Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas O’Reilly said he was disappointed but not surprised and said the Council must ask Transport NI how it awards contracts to those who carry out roads maintenance. 
He claimed work on the Lisnaskea to Derrylin road has not been completed just yet because the cement has “to sit” for at least 28 days “to cure.”
Councillor O’Reilly said it is “unacceptable” that such work takes “all of the summer” to complete some repairs and highlighted the ongoing work on the Dublin Road in Enniskillen. 
Ulster Unionist Councillor Alex Baird spoke of “unbelievable tailbacks” on the Dublin Road this week, suggesting there had been “no forward thinking.”
“We need to rattle the cage,” he said. 
Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Irvine suggested that the Council ask Transport NI to carry out some of the work “out of hours.”
Independent Bernice Swift said this was an issue for Stormont, telling the Council how some residents in Boho “have to swerve past the jacuzzi sized pot holes.”
Sheamus Greene of Sinn Fein said: “I was going to give out about the roadworks held up in Cooneen and Brookeborough but then I remembered there is none.”
“There is white line issue in Clabby,” said Democratic Unionist Raymond Farrell. 
“There used to be a mini roundabout and now nobody knows where they are going.”
In his letter to the Council, Conor Loughrey, Divisional Roads Manager, said the Department of Infrastructure’s resource budget is “once again under pressure.” 
“At present only the highest priority defects will be fixed across the entire road network,” he said.