Fermanagh and Omagh Council has passed a motion to write to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) regarding traffic which has been diverted through Brookeborough due to ongoing road works at Major’s Bridge in Lisnaskea.

Councillor Sheamus Greene, of Sinn Féin, proposed this motion on Tuesday 4th June’s council meeting.

He said: “Hundreds of heavy goods vehicles are being diverted from Lisnaskea across to Brookeborough, coming up and down through the village’s main street.

“This is causing a serious safety problem and there will be an accident. A number of residents have mentioned to me about how dangerous it is.

“There have been a number of near misses already. It’s an accident waiting to happen – there will be somebody killed.”

Councillor Greene suggested that a temporary speed limit, while the diversion continues, may be necessary.

But he added: “I don’t know what the solution is, but something needs to be done to slow the traffic down.

“I’m suggesting we write as quickly as possible to DfI to see if there’s anything that can be done to calm the traffic in Brookeborough village.

“Brookeborough is normally a very calm, wee village and it’s certainly not at the minute.”

The UUP’s, Councillor Victor Warrington, seconded the proposal, reiterating Councillor Greene’s sentiments.

He said: “Like Sheamus I’m also a Brookeborough councillor and have had representation from different people about this problem.”

Councillor Warrington said DfI’s letter, which the council passed a motion to respond to “tried to justify the reasons why we (local councillors) weren’t allowed into the meeting to discuss this”.

The meeting referred to was a public consultation led by the department regarding the knock-on effects of the works at Major’s Bridge.

Councillor Warrington said: “DfI, obviously in their wisdom, arranged this meeting at a very apt time, when they knew that purdah was on.”

He added: “We put up a very strong argument on the day that we were still elected councillors, but unfortunately that didn’t wash.”

Purdah is the term used to describe the period between the time an election is announced and the date the election is held.

DfI’s letter stated because the public consultation took place during this purdah period, the restriction on the Brookeborough councillors’ attendance at the meeting, was “correct and consistent” with guidelines “given the presence of press and television media companies on the day”.