Plan that could move Enniskillen forward

Denzil McDaniel • Published 3 Dec 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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This newspaper has revealed this week that members of Fermanagh District Council have been formulating ideas that would have a major impact on the county town of Enniskillen.

While details of the nature of the discussion are not fully known, it is very clear that the Councillors are showing imagination and vision and are trying to formulate a development plan which would be very positive.

So well done to our Councillors, or whichever individual came forward with this idea.

Details of some of the ideas can be found on pages one and seven of this week's issue. But in a nutshell, it would involve South West College and the PSNI relocating to the present Erne Hospital site, with the added possibility of emergency services, including police, fire and ambulance being based there as well.

Consideration is also being given to moving other public sector services out of buildings they currently occupy on the crowded island town.

There are two initial advantages to this plan.

Firstly, it would be a marvellous use of the vital prime space about to be vacated by the Erne hospital when the new acute hospital, now under construction, is completed. After all, who wants the Erne site to be left idle for years with the resultant derelict buildings.

And secondly, the prime spaces left by the College, the PSNI and others could be put to good use, whether for private development, additional car parking, or even cleared to cope with extra traffic.

Enniskillen has become a real thriving boom town. But it is clear that those in authority responsible for allocating resources here have not had the vision to spend on our infrastructure. Our pleas for the absolute necessity of a throughpass have been falling on deaf ears for far too long.

Therefore, it would be appropriate if the Councillors showed exactly such vision in formulating a plan going forward into the next decade.

There may be some reservations and some will have different views on what is good or bad.

But overall, this is a magnificent plan and if everybody can approach it in a spirit of co-operation, Enniskillen will benefit greatly.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 03 Dec 09

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