By Paul McElwee

PLANS to depedestrianise the Castle Street area of Strabane took a step closer, when it was decided that a site meeting would take place to discuss the plans.

At a Council meeting on Monday night, members were unable to agree whether or not the plans should go ahead, but did agreed that a site meeting should take place at the location in the near future.

The plans to depedestrianise the street is believed to have the backing of the Chamber of Commerce.

As well as opening the street completely, another option was mooted. There is a possibility that the road will be opened on a fifty-fifty basis. This means that traffic will be able to drive through Castle Street and there will be parking pays on the street also.

Vociferously opposed to the depedestrianisation is Independent Councillor James O'Kane, amid concerns for the very people the area was created for, the pedestrians.

"I am totally opposed to this. People walk along that street every day. The elderly, the disabled, and shoppers with prams can all peruse the shops along Castle Street in safety, and we know that if street is opened up, then it will be flooded with taxis.

"The only good thing that would come of that is that the buses can now park where they should. Anyone getting off the bus in Abercorn Square should be able to step off the bus and onto the pavement.

"They have to park out from the pavement because of the taxi's taking up the space.

Taxi drivers say that the NCP leave them alone while they are parked there, but if they are forced to move they would go to Lower Main Street or Butcher Street. If this plan goes ahead, woe betide any taxi in the town."

Derg councillor Derek Hussey said that he believed he should not have a say in whether the de-pedestrian plan goes ahead.

"This plan is one for the Mourne councillors to debate, and not us in Castlederg. I will not be part of the decision process. If there is any councillor outside of Mourne who wishes to take part in the process, I don't have a problem with that."

There are plans for the refurbishment of Abercorn Square and the SDLP's Eugene McMenamin advised that it would be better to wait before a new plan was put in place.

Sinn Fein's Jarlath McNulty, of Strabane 2000 said, "We need everyone's views, and I understand that everyone will have their own views. But as a corporate body, we need someone to come up with the plans and to come up with them as soon as possible," he added

It was decided that a site meeting will take place in the coming weeks.