Storm Dennis raged through Fermanagh at the weekend and several days later its presence is still being felt in the west of the county, specifically in rural areas such as Boho and Derrygonnelly.

As a result of torrential rain an Erne West councillor has claimed some residents have had to stock up on basic food provisions, arrange lifts to work and even make arrangements to stay in Enniskillen because “they cannot safely negotiate their vehicles through the high volume of water”.

Councillor Bernice Swift told this newspaper that every time there is heavy rainfall and particularly the continuous storm rainfall recently the areas of Boho and Derrygonnelly are adversely impacted.

“The fact that many constituents are re-routed for work due to many of the roads being impassable leaves this ongoing situation extremely frustrating. Added to the annoyance is the fact that our rural roads are badly decimated by the impact of flood water and the length of time water remains on the road leaving serious potholes and very unsafe crumbling of which many cars have encountered costly damage,” she said.

Several years ago, Councillor Swift says she presented a “workable solution” to the NI Drainage Council, the proposal of which scored sufficiently high towards the next stage for consideration to re-route the Sillees River.

“However, at that time there wasn’t the political will by then then Minister to provide the answer to people in Erne West. The solution was not viewed as value for money but what I definitely learned is that there is always an engineering solution to any of these problems, but there might not be the willingness to provide the necessary investment.

“Whilst this response was not acceptable or sufficient a representative group made up of school bus drivers, a pub owner, farmers, home owners and parents met within the then Fermanagh Council to ensure other immediate cost effective solutions for Government be carried out,” she said.

Councillor Swift said the floods are creating “hazardous situations” and in one townland at Samsonagh water levels reached up to five feet in depth.

“Lands in this case become destroyed and this problem cannot have a blind eye turned by political institutions which receive a significant regional rate from all the ratepayers in this area to provide solutions.

“Whilst the suffering is not quite as adverse as in 2014, a significant response is still required for ongoing investment for the rural roads area of Erne West. Our rural area wants fair play, fair treatment and we no longer accept empty promises or indeed empty pockets. We demand the significant investment needed to provide proper and safe roads during all seasons but particularly the flooding season,” she said.

Publican Dessie McKenzie said the flooding was a “continuation of rural decline in the county and the region in general”.

“This issue has been ongoing for many decades and a succession of Westminster governments have delivered reduced budgets year after year and Stormont is unable to deliver solutions to localised problems like this road which, depending on rainfall, could be under water for 30 to 40 days a year.

“With families unable to build in the countryside and being forced into nearby towns and urban areas where the rents and house prices are higher, the knock on effect to rural life will be severe and will put many other local amenities at risk like our school and community centre which is dependent on a new emerging population,” he said.