A DECISION to close part of the Sligo Road in Enniskillen to accommodate a £200,000 resurfacing scheme from Monday (August 21) has been described as “absolute madness” by one business owner. 
The resurfacing work, which will run for one kilometre from the Coleshill Road to Rossorry Link Road, will deliver “significant improvements” to the structural integrity and the road surface quality of the Sligo Road, according to the Department for Infrastructure. 
The scheme is expected to be completed by Friday, September 1.
But Patrick McCaffrey, who owns Western Cars, has told The Impartial Reporter that he was not consulted about the proposed road closure. 
“I am not very happy about this. I wonder why nobody has received notification? How do our staff get in? How do customers get in? I am totally gob smacked, I am totally shocked,” he said.
From Monday, August 21 to Wednesday, August 23 from 9.30am to 11.30pm there will be a total closure with local traffic accommodated.
From Thursday, August 24 and Friday, August 25 traffic lights will operate on the road.
From Monday, August 28 to Thursday, August 31 from 9.30am to 11.30pm there will be a total closure with local traffic accommodated. Schools re-open on September 1. 
“I can’t understand why we haven’t been consulted nor can I understand why they are taking this approach in the times they are doing it,” said Mr. McCaffrey.
“Other large centres in Enniskillen have been accommodated by weekend work or late night work. To close this road is absolute madness. 
“This road has been dug up so many times it’s hard to understand why it is being done again. What do we do?” he asked. 
Scott Robinson of Craigville Garden Centre, which is also based on the Sligo Road, believes small businesses like his are “hindered all the time.”
“They will be redirecting traffic out the Shore Road so that’s going to more or less stop everybody from coming here. I can’t understand why it can’t be done at night. 
“If you are the bigger boys at the far end of the town you would probably be consulted but yet again it’s the smaller businesses that are getting hit. We are all local businesses owned by local people living in the local area and we don’t need this,” he told The Impartial Reporter.
Mr. Robinson fears a loss of earnings as a result of the work.
“I have staff to pay, how can you pay them with no customers? We have rates to pay. How is this helping us? It’s not. First it was Johnston Bridge, then it was the Erneside footbridge, then they changed their minds and got a bit of common sense. They seem to hinder us all the time. They are closing us off completely,” he said. 
Diversions will be signposted via the A46 Loughshore Road, B81 Derrygonnelly Rd, B81 Drumee Road, B81 Ashwoods Road and A4 Sligo Road. In a statement, the Department said it aimed to keep disruption to a minimum but added: “However, delays should be expected and drivers are asked to be patient and allow additional time when planning journeys in the area whilst the road improvements are being carried out.”
“The dates and duration of the works will be dependent on the progress of the scheme and on favourable weather conditions,” said a spokesperson.