Due to the significant amount of rainfall that has fallen recently, severe flooding has occurred on the Derrychara Link road in Enniskillen which has been having an adverse effect on local businesses.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter on Monday (February 24), Karen Walmsley, Manager at Cables & Accessories NI Ltd, which have a premises on the Derrychara Link road, commented that due to the flood, customers “can’t get in and out of the shop” which is having an impact on trade.

“This morning, by 11am we’ve only had four people in and we’ve been open since 7.30am this morning. It has been really quiet, usually it would be one after the other, a steady custom. It’s definitely way way down, we might as well be closed for what we’ve got. People know the flood is there and they are not bothering,” Ms. Walmsley told this newspaper on Monday.

“We were took over in April of last year and we’re just trying to find our feet and get custom out there so it hasn’t helped in that sense either, we are a new business trying to start out and it would be great if they can try and solve this problem because we don’t need it,” she added.

Access to the Fabric Library has also been restricted due to the flooding. Commenting on how the business has been affected, Director Jackie Fallis said: “Because we’ve got no access to the shop, it’s putting customers off from coming down. We have had one or two who have braved it but we can’t get deliveries in. We already had a delivery that couldn’t come down this morning and the customer was in waiting for the fabric to come in from them. So it’s just throwing us into disarray really.”

When asked what she believes should be done to tackle the issue, Ms. Fallis said: “They already had put in a new pumping system but I think at the time they didn’t go for the most expensive option which would have been the more permanent option. Obviously I know it is exceptional weather and I know there is very high river levels so I honestly don’t know if that would have made a difference to it but it depends on how quickly they can get that sorted and get back into action because if it lasts for any length of time it does have a knock on effect on the business.”

Highlighting that rainfall in February, so far, has been approximately 160 per cent of the monthly average in some western areas, a spokeswoman for the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) stated: “As a result of these conditions, localised flooding and disruption to travel is possible. The Department’s operational teams are continuing to pump at Derrychara Link Road, Enniskillen to protect properties from the risk of flooding and to keep the road open to traffic as far as possible. The road was closed on Monday, February 24 as the flow of water entering this area was greater than the capacity of the pumping arrangement, however the operational teams continued to work through Monday night to reduce water levels and the road has now reopened.”

Elsewhere in the county, many other roads have been closed due to flooding including the Rossmacaffry road in Lisnaskea which has resulted in local resident Ross McVitty having to travel to work by tractor.

Talking to The Impartial Reporter, Mr. McVitty said: “At the moment it’s very depressing having to go out in the tractor, having to carry out messages on the tractor, groceries, coal, cattle feed, I can’t get cattle out to the mart. You can’t really go out too far away because you can’t travel far in the tractor.

In a statement on Tuesday, February 25, a DfI spokeswoman said: “Multi-agency partners continue to respond to localised impacts on low lying roads around Lough Erne. There is some disruption to the local road network in the area and roads have been closed due to the high lough water levels. Road users are reminded to adhere to road signage and if your journey is essential, reduce your speed, stay well behind the vehicle in front, remain focused and always wear your seatbelt.”