There has been widespread frustration and anger among the local business community as works in Enniskillen continue to disrupt trade.

A series of improvement works are taking place at the Quay Lane West Car Park at the rear of Belmore Street. This is having a serious knock-on effect for local businesses as many of their customers cannot park near their premises.

According to signage from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) the works are set to continue into the new year.

One business owner who has spoken about the impact of these works is Fintan O’Doherty , O’Doherty’s Butchers who said: “The way it has been handled hasn’t been very well thought out with businesses in mind, there has been no communication.”

Currently there are some spaces available in the carpark as FODC and the contractor are doing the works in stages.

However, the number of spaces has seriously reduced.

Fintan said: “The people who park down there are usually the workforce of Quay Lane, Belmore Street and East Bridge Street.

“People are now parking all day on Belmore Street due to there being no ticketing taking place in the town centre.”

“I have requested a meeting with the person in charge of the works. It should be done in more phases so to leave the car park 50 per cent open instead.

“We also need to know when it is going to open for full access for the three or four weeks of Christmas, [for business] it has to be at 90 per cent occupancy rate.”

Fintan also suggested other solutions to the problem including FODC approach St. Michael’s Parish, Enniskillen for use of their car park for the work force of the area to allow the spaces in Quay Lane to be used as free one hour parking to encourage a flow of traffic.

He added: “We are paying rates and yes, we had the break over Covid but it would be nice for some communication with the people from the townhall [FODC]. I think we need to put the ratepayers at the heart of the plans for the town.”

Concluding and mindful of the ongoing issues for individuals, families, and businesses across Fermanagh, Fintan said: “It comes at a very difficult time, the timing has been unlucky. There has been a perfect storm with the electricity [and other rising essential costs]. We are being mindful at our end but everybody is under serious pressure.”

The Impartial Reporter asked the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for a comment on the matter but they did not respond at the time of going to press.