The much awaited traffic lights at the Gaol Square junction in Enniskillen finally came to life on Thursday. However, motorists who had longed for relief from the 'dimple' roundabout they have been negotiating for the last few months now found themselves simply sitting in extended traffic jams.

Responding to the obvious problems the lights have been causing in Enniskillen over the last few days, Andrew Knox from Roads Service has assured the public they are taking action, and that come this Friday, drivers should see a 'big improvement' in traffic management in the town.

However, Mr Knox admitted: "The lights were switched on at 11am last Thursday, there was a lot of traffic in town on that day, particularly around lunchtime, as a result the new traffic signals were certainly under test and we had a number of issues with the signals."

Mr Knox explained the signals are still not fully installed to the specification Roads Service requirements. He said engineers from England were due to arrive in Enniskillen today (Wednesday) to install a system called MOVA which will link the traffic lights at Quay Pass, the new traffic lights at Gaol Square, and also the signals at Derrychara Road.

He explained, "At the moment, there isn't a hard link between those three sets of signals and we are certainly aware of some problems, such as at certain times of the day you may get a green light at one, to be faced with a red light at another. When MOVA is fully installed by Friday, a new system will be set up, the signals will be linked and the management of the whole flow should be better."

Mr Knox added: "The signals should be working more efficiently than they have been. All traffic coming into and out of town will be monitored by the system and it will balance the amount of time given to each arm of the junction."

The queues of cars leading up to the new junction, and in particularly along Belmore Street, where she has her constituency office, prompted the Environment Minister, Arlene Foster, to voice her concerns.

Mrs Foster explained she had witnessed for herself the build up of traffic in this area: "It was obvious there was a problem from very early on Thursday when the new traffic lights became operational. The traffic just seemed to be gridlocked."

Referring to the many complaints raised to her from frustrated drivers trying to negotiate their way to and from work, Mrs Foster has expressed her own concerns about the wider implications the congestion could have.

"We are a tourist town. We want to welcome tourists to our area. We need them to spend their money in the shops and restaurants and to enjoy their time in this lovely part of the world, not to sit in cars in heavy traffic, unable to see anything of the scenery except for the car in front."

The Minister explained she had contacted Roads Service about this matter, and expressed her relief that they are taking swift action: "This is something I welcome, and look forward to a solution before the schools and the associated traffic return to our roads in September."