More Enniskillen traders not paying for festive lights

Catriona Loughran • Published 4 Mar 2010 14:26 0 Comments

Share this

Christmas illuminations at Belmore Street, Enniskillen.

Fermanagh District Council hope that some kind of partnership can be set up between Enniskillen traders towards making a reasonable contribution to festive lighting in time for Christmas this year.

Over the years, the Council has been footing the majority of the festive lighting bill in the town in the absence of a Chamber of Commerce while "Scrooge-like" businesses fail to make any contributions.

The Environmental Services Committee was provided with a report which outlined the comparison in relation to the contribution received from businesses towards the Christmas lighting in Enniskillen from 2006 to 2009.

At Monday night's meeting of Fermanagh District Council, councillors expressed their disappointment in the report and objected to the lack of contribution made by some businesses.

"Yet again it is a big disappointment for the county town compared to the efforts of the small villages who bend over backwards for the people who frequent the towns at Christmas time," said Sinn Fein Councillor Ruth Lynch. "I was taken aback by the amount of businesses that did not put an effort into the Christmas lights this year and we all agree that it is lovely to come into a town at Christmas time but the Council cannot be asked to shoulder the cost for all the expense. After all, isn't it the traders who benefit the most from all this cross-border trade?"

SDLP Councillor Fergus McQuillan described it as "an absolute disgrace" and Chairman of the Council Robert Irvine added, "The small villages make a huge contribution within the county to have their Christmas lights on compared to a lack-lustre attempt in Enniskillen and these businesses are gaining so much from these lights at the council's expense."

Independent Councillor Gerry McHugh concluded by saying, "I'm very surprised at this and is it a case that the town traders are doing that well they don't need to be worrying about lights?"

Director of Tourism, Leisure and Arts Robert Gibson said only a select number of businesses contribute every year and numbers are dwindling.

"Fermanagh District Council offers funding to all towns and villages in the county but its main funds go towards Enniskillen and depends very much on contributions from local business but many businesses in the town never contribute. Only a limited amount of funding goes to towns like Irvinestown and Lisnaskea and they are able to raise the rest of the funds themselves. The operation costs tens of thousands of pounds each year and I don't think traders realise how costly it is and the council would like to see more co-operation for this years lighting."

It was indicated that the Council may publicly identify those businesses which had made a contribution for 2010 in September.

"Rather than naming and shaming businesses, the Council will celebrate those businesses who do contribute to the festive lights so that customers know exactly who the businesses are that don't," said Mr. Gibson.

Omagh District Council, which is to amalgamate with Fermanagh District Council next year, pays for its Christmas lights and also supports towns and villages throughout the district with grant aid but the burden that comes with this is that Omagh's rates are much higher than Fermanagh's.

Mr. Gibson continued, "Do we reduce the lights so that there is not a burden on the ratepayer or do we take full responsibility of the lights in Enniskillen and increase the burden of ratepayers not only in Enniskillen but for the rest of Fermanagh? Traders have a responsibility and it would be good to see some sort of partnership with traders in place so that more contributions can be made for this year and the future."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 04 Mar 10

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.