A RESIDENT has raised concerns about the future of Kinarla Lough in Enniskillen as pictures have shown just how much of it has disappeared in 35 years.

Kinarla Lough, which feeds into the Lough Erne waterway system, has decreased dramatically in size and the concerned resident believes if something is not done, it will only be a matter of time before it disappears completely.

The concerned resident – who wishes to remain anonymous – lives close to the lough, and said they and others have raised concerns with various agencies over the years about the damage being done to the lake, but nothing has been done.

They said: “As residents we don’t know [what’s happening with the lugh], it’s just very, very concerning that it seems to be being filled in from all sides, with what, we don’t know.

“It’s clear to be seen there is definitely something going in there. It is not natural.

“The speed of what’s happening is not happening in a natural, timely manner. It seems to be a man-made thing.

“Kinarla lake was a large lake, and has a bridge that the water flows back and forward [under], and goes out into the wider Lough Erne. So, anything that has been tipped in to Kinarla Lough, naturally forms part of the wider Lough Erne,” they said.

The resident asked if the quality of the water in the loughs in Fermanagh is an issue, why isn’t anything being done to reverse the decline of the lough?

They said: “We brought that to the attention of a number of water agencies and nobody stepped forward to do anything about it. We sent photos to a number of departments, and nothing has been done to restore or do anything about it.

“If there were farmers letting effluent seep into the waters, or if there were people dumping litter into the waters, we would be fined and asked to restore the lough.

“Whatever is happening to that water, there needs to be an investigation to see what is going in there, who is putting it in there, and what are the consequences and how do they restore the lough to its natural state.

“The other thing we’re concerned about is the impact on the wildlife. That lake was full of nesting swans, and full of wildlife, and they have stopped coming to the lake. We would love to see it restored to its natural state; we know what it was like.”

Complaints

Enniskillen Councillor, Donal O’Cofaigh has been pursuing complaints in regard to Lough Kinarla and its surrounding area for a number of months.

Councillor O’Cofaigh said: “Local residents and concerned citizens have submitted complaints with supporting photographs and videos to the council’s planning enforcement department over a range of environmental concerns.

“At a recent Policing and Community Safety Partnership meeting, I asked the police to confirm that cutting down bat roosts was unlawful, but as yet I don’t believe anything has come of the allegations raised by activists in that meeting.

“Perhaps most concerning is that Lough Kinarla appears to have dramatically shrunk in recent years.

“I understand that photos and videos have been submitted to [the] planning enforcement [department] which allege that the lake has been infilled.”

Councillor O’Cofaigh said he had visited the site to see what has happened and he believes earth has been pushed directly into the lake.

He added: “The entire situation is highly concerning. We have planning laws to protect our environment – I don’t understand why this has been allowed to occur. I am awaiting a full report from the planning enforcement department on matters.”

A Fermanagh and Omagh District Council spokesperson said that while they do not own or have anything to do with the management of the lough, they have received a number of complaints about infilling of the lough, and they “continue to investigate this in the context of planning legislation”.

They said: “Any deterioration in the quality of the Lough is a matter for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

“The council can take enforcement action against any infilling of the lough. Infilling of bodies of water would normally require planning permission and other consents from such bodies as the NIEA.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: “NIEA have not received any reports of pollution to Kinarla Lough so far in 2020.

“If anyone wishes to report incidents of water pollution, they can do so by phoning the Water Pollution Hotline at 0800 80 70 60.”