AS protesters stood outside Enniskillen Townhall to oppose a proposal to build a community centre in the Coleshill area, Sinn Fein’s Stephen Huggett was inside describing it “as a non issue”.

And he wasn’t the only one: SDLP councillor Frank Britton - who represents the Enniskillen area - said the discussion on whether or not to build the community project “has kind of passed”, indicating that it was perhaps too late to speak out against it.

Fermanagh District Council is seeking planning permission for the development of a £390,000 facility in the area despite opposition from some residents and political representatives.

The UUP’s Basil Johnson told Monday night’s council meeting that the planning proposal “will lead to further community division” and the council should find an alternative location.

Councillor Britton said he had “some sympathy” for those opposing the idea but added: “The issue over a facility for that part of town has been on the agenda for four or five years. There is no doubt that the facility has support and the overarching sentiment is that this is the best location.

“The communities are united in their desire to support this decision and move on to the development stage. The discussion on this has kind of passed,” said Councillor Britton.

“I wouldn’t say the community is united,” responded Councillor Johnston. “I would say they are divided. Have other alternative sites been looked at by the council? I have serious doubts.” Acting Chief Executive Robert Gibson informed the council that a “considerable amount of work” had gone on but other sites were simply “not obtainable or affordable”, including the former Grosvenor Barracks site, near Coleshill.

Keith Elliott, DUP, told the meeting: “The people in the area are not against a community centre, it’s just the location that is causing a problem and not just in one area but in other areas.” “This is a non-issue from a planning point-of-view,” said Councillor Stephen Huggett: “We are not about dividing communities we are about enhancing, promoting and building communities,” added the UUP’s Robert Irvine before the item was referred back to the next Environmental Services meeting “for consideration”.

One of the protesters outside the Townhall was Gerry Keys, a resident from Windmill Drive.

He told The Impartial Reporter: “We are opposed to this community centre being put on the green for starters. It is not big enough for the children to play on as it is without taking the green away. All summer it was full of children running about and playing and now they could take the green away. There would only be one slide and something else for them to play with.” “This has split the whole community up and there are people who won’t talk to us at all,” he added.

Coleshill resident Richard White said: “I am all for the community hall, just not the place of it. It seems that Sinn Fein are pushing this forward. This is a protestant area and they are trying to put their foot down a bit. They are vote grabbing, they are just trying to be controversial.” The Traditional Unionist Voice’s Donald Crawford, who joined the protest, said: “It is absolute disgrace that this has been imposed upon the elderly residents of Windmill Drive and that surrounding area of Enniskillen. They are putting this on them at their late stage of life when they want to be retiring. It seems to have turned into a political football between orange and green.” Alex Elliott, also of the TUV, added: “209 residents in that area have signed a petition against this. A community impact assessment needs to be carried out to see what impact this will have: What impact will it have on the elderly? Will it bring crime to the area? Will it bring anti-social behaviour? Drink? Drugs? Or anything else? I see no positives in it.”