Members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have agreed to explore the potential of acquiring a specialised machine for the Western Division in an effort to address the continuing problem of potholes.

Independent Councillor Bernice Swift told members: “This district has its fair share of potholes but unfortunately very unfair investment and process[es] to resolve them.

“However, a solution may be within reach, but it will take political will and investment by the Department for Infrastructure, as it’s their responsibility.”

She explained Louth County Council has invested in a pothole-fixing machine manufactured by JCB, and so far that council has “covered 700 potholes in one month”.

Continuing, she said: “This machine has a four-part process method – by cutting, cleaning and sweeping then filling the pothole with hot asphalt, which is more long-lasting, Louth [County Council] has repaired 10,000sq metres of pothole-riddled road surface.

“Apply that to our council area and we would be very happy.”

Councillor Swift proposed writing to the Minister for Infrastructure seeking significant investment for the Western Division to acquire the machine because “our constituents are paying into a central budget they are not in receipt of a service for”.

She added: “The Stormont statement isn’t fixing the potholes and we as councillors are very frustrated with issues not being addressed.

“Here is a solution. If it’s working well in Louth, I fail to see how it cannot work here.”

Concluding, she stressed any procurement for purchasing the machine must be human rights-compliant as she claimed: “JCB products have been used in the destruction of Palestinian villages in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and should not be used.”

This was seconded by Councillor Sheamus Greene, Sinn Fein, who described this as: “A great idea.”

Ulster Unionist Councillor John McLaughry has encountered the machine which he explained is “tractor-driven by one operator, with its own safety features”.

He continued: “It would benefit Roads Service, who could free up employees for other work. It does four times the work of our road teams.

“I would ask the Department to seriously look at this machine. Every council which has one is singing its praises.”

Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent, commented on Councillor Swift’s stipulation of not automatically going to JCB, pointing to: “Ongoing legal action by lawyers for Palestinian human rights due to [JCB machinery’s alleged] involvement in construction and destruction machines clearing properties in the occupied [West Bank] lands.

“I wouldn’t have supported the proposal without that proviso.”

The Chair, Councillor Barry McElduff, felt the proposal was “very innovative”, adding: “It’s worthwhile reminding the public that the Council doesn’t have a duty or responsibility for fixing potholes, despite nearly everybody thinking we do.

“It’s the Department for Infrastructure [which bears responsibility], and we lobby them as an elevated voice, but that’s all we are. There is a confusion out there [on this issue].”

Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Irvine agreed, commenting: “People still think we have that responsibility.

“Over the past two to three years, the effectiveness of many centralised functions controlled by Stormont are starting to fail.

“This Council should go further and lobby the Department that if they  transferred an amount of capital revenue, we could – with a bit of jiggling around – look at buying a machine and start this.

“At times, it’s not the lack of money, it’s the lack of will to actually get things carried out, as well as getting organised within a large conglomerate.

“We as a council have proven if we are given a chunk of money from central coffers, we can outperform on the ground.”

He concluded: “The centralised oligarchs should distribute some of the money to councils so that the work is done, and people are better satisfied.

“They buy us the machine, give us the resource; we get the job done.”

Members were in agreement, with two abstentions.