BY MICHAEL BRESLIN

Poor roads and transport infrastructure are depressing the economy of the county.

The issue was debated in the Assembly this week and, in his contribution, Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh-South Tyrone, Tom Elliott has said that it is important to recognise that the future economic prosperity of Fermanagh and the West of the Province was not confined to just the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment.

Mr Elliott went on: "One of the greatest drawbacks to providing a stronger economic base is our roads and transport infrastructure. In Fermanagh, the road network is self evident by the sheer volume of HGV traffic that make up the daily traffic flow.

"In the county town of Enniskillen", he went on, " the gridlock that occurs during peak times is without doubt a 'negative' in terms of those operating in business or industry by adding to journey times, increasing fuel consumption and resulting in unnecessary additional carbon emissions and pollution".

He then referred to a Report published in April 2002 which was commissioned by Fermanagh District Council.

'Assessment of Dependence on Transportation Infrastructure', he submitted, gave great insight into an important issue, and, although it is over five years old, he suspected that the majority of the concerns expressed in that Study remained largely unaddressed by government.

He went on: "The Report noted that the investment in our roads is lower relative to England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Of specific interest to this motion was the lack of strategic corridors linking the border regions with the rest of the Province.

"Furthermore. consultees from business and industry made it quite clear that the state of the roads network was negatively impacting upon competitiveness".

Mr Elliott then identified the sectors which, he believed, represent a large proportion of private business in the west, manufacturing, quarrying and other heavy industries, he suggested, have a high reliance on the road network for moving raw materials or finished products and the costs imposed by poor infrastructure do place a pressure on such enterprises that threatens profitability.

"When this Assembly is trying to bring about a reduced reliance on public sector employment and trying to increase private enterprise, it is key that what the Province is good at, what it can export globally at high return does not have obstacles put in its way by the lack of joined up thinking and investment in our roads.

"In the study", he went on, 53.7% of the local businesses consulted had transport costs representing over 20% of their overheads, and, for over 75% of the firms, the costs were over 10% of overheads.

Tom concluded: "We must recognise that one of the greatest negative factors facing the local economy is the roads and transport infrastructure."