A new barrier has been recently erected at the Round O in Enniskillen in what appears to be a bid to enforce no overnight stays in the area.

Over the summer months, there have been a large number of motorhomes using the free car park at the Round O, but with the new height restriction barrier, motorhomes can no longer enter the car park.

A sign has also been put up informing the public of no overnight stays.

Approved

At Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s July 5 Environmental Services Committee meeting, the motorhome overnight stays were discussed and it was approved that the Council would continue to enforce no overnight stays in Council car parks and facilities through education, encouragement and monitoring, and to move motorhome owners to licensed sites across the district.

The cost of this over July and August would cost up to £10,000.

It was also approved to progress Council bye-laws to control the use of and access to Council facilities and open spaces.

The Impartial Reporter contacted the Council specifically about the Round O, and asked if it had received complaints from members of the public or local businesses about the number of motorhomes using the Round O.

During the discussion, Councillor Keith Elliott, DUP, said he had been contacted by parents who had planned to bring their children to the playpark at the Round O but were unable to because the motorhomes had taken up parking spaces.

‘Representations’

“The Council received representations from a number of people regarding overnight parking at the Round O earlier this summer,” a Council spokesperson said.

They also said they had received correspondence from motor home users.

Some have raised the question as to whether stopping these motorhome users from parking close to Enniskillen would affect tourism in the area, to which the Council responded: “Fermanagh and Omagh District Council recognises the tourism potential of the district and aims to improve the tourism and visitor experience for the benefit of our visitors, local communities, businesses and the environment.

“The Council is currently consulting on a draft Visitor Experience Development Plan (VEDP) for the Fermanagh Lakelands and Omagh and the Sperrins [areas].

“Details of the VEDP and the consultation process are available on the Council’s website [at www.fermanaghomagh.com].”

The Council said it will enforce and take appropriate action on vehicles that park overnight at the Round O and reserves the right to take other forms of legal action as and when necessary.