Erne East members on Fermanagh District Council have decried the alleged 'neglect' by the Environmental Heritage Service (EHS) of a local lake, Drumacrittin Lough near Roslea, which has 'designated' status.

Harold Andrews led the assault. He said he was concerned at the EHS's refusal to considering fishing infrastructure for the lough: "They did respond to say they believed that Drumacrittin was a very special site, that they were committed to applying the designation and that they would continue to monitor the situation, but that they weren't prepared to change their position."

He argued that there were fishing stands on the lake a few years ago and neither of the stands harmed the area. He said it was unfortunate, but one had to accept the EHS's decision.

Brian McCaffrey had harsh words for the manner in which the EHS looked after its own: "It slaps on these designations and then does absolutely nothing to police them. There was an incident recently on that particular lake were a local landowner saw fish being netted. Only for his vigilance, I suppose considerable harm would have been done to the fish stocks that exist in the lake.

DILIGENCE

"This is a lake that has been fished for years by all of the people around and, indeed, by people further afield, but the reality is: if it weren't for that man's diligence, those stocks would have been seriously depleted in a very short period of time."

Mr McCaffrey, the new Vice-chairman of the Council, suggested that if the Environmental Heritage Service wished to designate, they needed to be more alert.