Forthill Park is to reopen to the public in the New Year, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has confirmed, as significant conservation works to Cole’s Monument continue, with great improvements now evident.

When works began at the park on April 12, 2021 it was anticipated that they would be completed over a four month period, with the park expected to reopen in September.

However, in a statement to The Impartial Reporter in mid-September, a Council spokesman explained that the park improvement works were still underway and that they were anticipated to be completed “prior to Christmas”, if weather permitted.

The refurbishment of the park includes conservation work to Cole’s Monument. As pictured, the historic monument has seen significant improvements, with his previous grey colour now a bright white.

Speaking to this newspaper this week, the Council spokesman reiterated that it is anticipated that the conservation works on Cole’s Monument will be completed by mid-November and works to the wider park will be completed in December 2021 with the park reopening to the public in the New Year.