The development to bring a homeless centre to the Castlecoole Road in Enniskillen will proceed without the input of Fermanagh District Council after Councillors voted not to take up places on an Enniskillen Project team tasked with moving the development forward.

Despite this, work is expected to begin early next year on the building, which will be sited at Wickham Place, at the roundabout on the Tempo Road.

Councillors on the Development Committee of the Council were asked to consider correspondence from Fold Housing Association regarding the establishment of an 'Enniskillen Project Team' with the aim of 'finalising operational management procedures for the development'.

After discussion, it was proposed and seconded that the Council write to Fold Housing Association declining the request for the Council to participate in the scheme.

A recorded vote was taken with SDLP, DUP, and UUP members supporting the decision not to join the committee, while six Sinn Féin councillors voted to take up the offer, with Pat Cox and Ruth Lynch, both Sinn Féin abstaining from the vote.

SDLP Enniskillen Councillor Frank Britton welcomed the Council's decision. He said, "The Council seem to have taken the view this development will not be without its challenges down the line, and they have decided this is a risk they do not want to take.

"There are a number of problems with this development, namely that it is in the wrong location, right next door to a primary school. As well as that, most of the people in the area remain opposed to the development, and there are still concerns regarding the level of parking which will be provided."

Mr Britton, a resident of the area, said there was also the suggestion that the development might be used to house people from outside the county, at a time when there was a large number of people struggling to find temporary accommodation in Fermanagh.

Mr Britton insisted that he, and the Council, recognised the need for proper affordable accommodation, "We support that, but this type of development certainly does not fit the bill."