Fears over the arrival of the dreaded 'Redcoats' in the village of Tempo may be allayed somewhat by a revelation at a meeting of Fermanagh District Council.
Patricia Rogers, an SDLP Councillor for the area provided an update on the proposals, saying she was hopeful a compromise could be reached which would accommodate both villagers in Tempo and through traffic.
"It is intended', she explained, "there will be a meeting with the Roads Service before the end of the month. The matter of introducing parking restrictions in Tempo is still out for consultation and I would urge people to make their feelings heard."
The matter of parking was raised at Monday night's meeting by Councillor Tom Elliott who called for the Council to write to the Department of Regional Development, asking them to address the problem which he said was "almost unbearable in some instances", particularly in Enniskillen.
His UUP colleague, Councillor Bertie Kerr backed up Councillor Elliott, saying he had been contacted by a number of businesses in Enniskillen whose customers has been hit by parking tickets and this was having a direct impact on their businesses.
He commented: "Many of these family businesses have been in the town for years and are paying £27,000 in rates and, yet people can't stop at the shop. It's not bloody good enough."
He also claimed there were discrepancies among parking attendants, and he called for disabled badge holders from the South of Ireland to be entitled to park, without getting a ticket, in disabled spaces here.
Bert Johnston, DUP claimed the parking attendants were having as detrimental an effect on the town as terrorists did during the Troubles. He said people were being put off coming into Enniskillen for fear of getting a £30 fine. He called for the Council to write to NCP asking them to withdraw from the town.
Sinn Féin's Pat Cox said Tempo had a similar situation brewing where proposals to introduce parking restrictions in the town would lead to similar problems, particularly outside the Catholic Church in the middle of the town where a hearse or wedding car would not permitted to remain during the ceremony.
Gerry McHugh, Independent, lent his support to Councillor Cox. He said: "There is only a problem in Tempo for a couple of hours in the morning and evening. These restrictions of limited parking would make the town into a racing track and make it more dangerous."
Councillor Frank Britton, SDLP, reported that he had also been contacted by a number of businesses in Enniskillen concerned about the problem. He said the problem was compounded by the arrival of a number of shops on the outskirts of the town who offered free parking, and he added: "This is a real live issue and it needs to be dealt with now in order to keep Enniskillen a vibrant trading town."
Alex Baird, UUP chairman of the Council, shared his opinion: "We need to recognise the important indigenous second generation who have stayed, and will stay, through think and thin."
At this stage, Councillor Rogers offered some relief when she indicated she had an update on the proposals for Tempo and that she was hopeful they could be 'tweaked' to prevent the disruption which Councillors Cox and McHugh had spoken about.
