Masters of the waiting game

Sarah Saunderson • Published 19 Nov 2009 09:00 0 Comments

Viewpoint

It's a waiting game we in Fermanagh have become proficient at playing, in fact we are masters of it.

First of all, the plans for the Cherrymount Link have been deferred yet again. And now, interim measures that would radically change the way we get about Enniskillen are being considered because it is not until 2018 that the southern by-pass will be operational.

The news sticks in the throat as the Department of Regional Development made an announcement of £6.4 million investment in Fermanagh roads this year. But none of this, of course, is new money.

It seems that Fermanagh is going to have to hold out for new money. The reason the Cherrymount link is being by-passed (pardon the pun) again is due to current financial difficulties. It would be more palatable if investment in our roads was plentiful during the boom years, but as we all know, that was not the case.

The Cherrymount Link -- a road that is only a paltry two kilometres long -- won't be completed until 2013. It's estimated to cost £5.6 million and will be operational later than the new multi-million pound south west hospital is expected to be.

And now to the Southern by-pass. Traffic problems in the town would be eased significantly when the Southern by-pass comes into being, but a route corridor is set to be presented to the public at a consultation day scheduled for Autumn 2010. Route identification work is taking as long as fifteen months. It looks like we could be waiting almost ten more years for a completion date.

How long can this town and this county be sidelined? Everyone here, and all our visitors to the county, are frankly sick, sore and tired of the pathetic infrastructure in a town that continues to be put aside while others right across Northern Ireland appear to be celebrating by-passes in abundance.

This is a call on MLAs and Councillors -- please, please redouble your efforts to see the local democracy we were promised at Stormont working. Your county needs you. Please answer the call.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 19 Nov 09

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