Workers in Enniskillen have united to form a lobby group to protest about proposed changes to car parks in the town.
The Enniskillen Workers Protest Group (EWPG), is made up mainly of workers from around the Queen Street area who use the free car park which is currently available. However, proposals from the Roads Service to introduce charges to the park have workers up in arms. And, the EWPG are calling for other workers in the town to come on board and support their case.
The Group is chaired by Una O'Reilly, who can be contacted on 07511 481105. The secretary is Gerard Cassidy who can be contacted on 07989 385090.
Mr Cassidy explained: "We have come together to try and lobby Councillors, MLA's and Roads Service about the proposed changes.
"We are very concerned about the introduction of parking charges to Queen Street Car Park. This would leave workers facing around £700 a year. We are already facing the possibility of higher rates bills and water charges, so this is basically an additional tax on people"
He recalled that, initially, when charges were introduced to car parks that local people were told it was for the benefit of shoppers.
"But we'd like to question what a 'shopper' means?," he went on. "Is it someone who comes across the border, as welcome as they are, once in a blue moon? Or is it a working mother who is doing her shopping daily to keep her family fed? All of the workers who use these car parks are also shoppers and are vital to the economy in the town," Mr Cassidy explained.
"It seems to us that everything is being done to push free parking off the island of Enniskillen. This time it's Queen Street which is facing changes, next time it could be Wellington Place or somewhere else."
In the coming weeks, the EWPG hope to organise petitions in Enniskillen and to host a public meeting to discuss the changes. Anyone who would like to support the group should contact them at the numbers above."
Pat Doherty from Roads Service has confirmed his Department are currently reviewing the parking in the town with the view to making alterations in Autumn this year.
He explained: "In Enniskillen there are currently approximately 1,430 off street-parking spaces. Of these, 644 are charged at an hourly rate of 30p and a further 164 spaces at Shore Road West and Quay Land South car park attracts a lower charge which provides all day parking at a reduced tariff of 30p for three hours.
"Recent car parking surveys would indicate most free car parks, with the exception of Hollyhill Link Road Car Park, are at or near capacity. The 187 spaces at Hollyhill Link Road are usually less than 20% utilised, thus 150 free spaces are normally available in that area."
Outlining the need for change, Mr Doherty explained: "Pay and Display parking is also well utilised and is regularly more than 80% utilised. To provide adequate availability of parking spaces for shoppers, utilisation needs to be less than 80%. A survey of the off-street parking undertaken in December 2007 indicates current usage at 98%.
"The eastern end of the town needs short duration parking as Quay Lane North and South car parks are normally 100% utilised, We therefore propose changing Quay Lane South car park to the hourly tariff which would provide an additional 92 spaces at that end of the town," he continued.
"The western end of the town also needs short duration parking as Head Street car park is normally 100% utilised and the free car parks at Queen Street and Wellington Place are normally 100% utilised. We therefore proposed introducing pay and display at the hourly tariff to Queen Street car park, which would provide an additional 95 short duration spaces.
"An extension is also proposed to Wellington Place car park which, when completed, will provide an additional 27 free car parking spaces for the west end of the town."
