Enniskillen retailers fear 40 per cent fall in trade due to town centre works

Road closures in place from East Bridge Street are part of the latest stage of the Public Realm Scheme development of Enniskillen town centre as the Diamond area upgrade works are ongoing until February 11.

However, despite it being just the first week of the projected works, town centre businesses say they are already feeling negative effects.

“Monday is a fairly busy day. I have six staff on, myself included, and I have two in today [Tuesday], and that is it – and to be honest, it is one too many. It is a complete waste of time opening,” said John Gallagher, of Gillens Greengrocers.

“A month is too long to be closed,” said Leslie Wilkin, of Leslie’s Bakery. “You don’t mind a day or two to be closed, but a month is too long, because once you lose the flow of cars you lose the people.”

One of the options businesses have called for it to allow traffic to come up from Paget Lane and turn left on to Church Street, where the Public Realms Scheme works have already been completed.

“The main issue to us is why won’t they [the Council] let the traffic come up that road beside the Halifax, Paget Lane? Surely it is not much to ask to open up Paget Lane,” said John.

On Tuesday, a number of vehicles were observed driving up Paget Lane and parking – despite the road being a one-way route that brings traffic out of the town centre.

Leslie Wilkin said this closure is another setback for businesses as they continue dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“[Close the road] for a month and people will get out of the habit [of shopping in the town] and they will go somewhere else. With Covid, it has taken us a long time to build up our business again,” he said.

“It did take a long time building us up after Covid [first hit], and it is going to happen again, it will take us a long time.

“Unless [the Council] do some kind of scheme and support us and help us through this.”

Simon Kennedy of S. D. Kells agreed that the closure was having a negative impact on business, as the town’s shops try to get back on their feet after two solid years of dealing with the pandemic: “It is only getting back to it.

“It took a long time, getting footfall back to the town centre again. We want to get a flow of traffic back through the town centre.

“I would also throw in they [the Council] should free the car parks up for the duration of the closure, for free parking, so people will use the car parks to come into the town centre.”

Shoe shop owner, Malcolm Sloan said the closure was “another event in a litany of disasters”. He continued: “We need to look after the town centre. It’s bad enough, having a pandemic.”

Una Burns, of Charlie’s Bar, accepted that while the closure does not affect her business as much as others, she has noticed the drop off in footfall through the town.

When spoken to, other businesses said they did not have a problem with the current works, and felt that with January being a quiet month for trade, it was a good time to carry out the works, which will be of great benefit to the town centre upon their completion.

In response to the issues raised by these and other businesses in the town centre, a spokesperson for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said: “It was always recognised that the works in The Diamond would necessitate a road closure and traffic diversion.

‘Considered’

“All traffic management and diversion options, including the Paget Lane/Church Street proposal, were considered and assessed.

“However, the diversion arrangement currently in place has been determined as the route which best ensures pedestrian and motorist safety and maintenance of traffic flow on the rest of the island.

“The Enniskillen Public Realm Steering Group, which comprises elected members and business representatives, has been fully involved in all decision making relating to the project, and the associated arrangements.

“The outcome of this decision and confirmation of the traffic management arrangements were communicated to business owners and premises on December 20, 2021.”

In relation to the free parking that some businesses suggested, the Council spokesperson confirmed “there are no proposals for free or subsidised parking during this phase of works”.

They continued: “The Council recognises the significant disruption that has been caused throughout the town by the Public Realm works and the cooperation shown, to date, by the public and the business community.”