BY ADRIAN MULLAN

FIRST it was the turn of the Minister of Finance to tell Omagh traders they must look to their own resources; then, on Tuesday night, chief executive of Omagh District Council Danny McSorley said that traders would have to play a bigger role in ensuring that Omagh was properly lit up this Christmas.

His comments followed a recommendation by Cllr Barry McElduff that the council should take a hand in ensuring that the traditional Christmas grotto is a feature of the High Street this December.

Cllr McElduff said that a protester, dressed as Santa in the public gallery of the council last year had drawn his attention to the issue by demanding a grotto on the High Street .

He urged the council to take the lead and suggested that business and the wider community would benefit.

The chief executive said that town centre activities were the responsibility of the Omagh Business Forum.

Mr McSorley said that the council makes a significant contribution every year but urged other "partners" to play a fuller part.

Cllr Pat McDonnell wondered if, on erecting such things as a grotto, the council would not be in danger of getting into trouble with the equality authorities, because the symbol of the festival wouldn't represent people of other faiths.

The CEO suggested that it would need an equality impact assessment. However, he went on to say that it wasn't necessarily up to the council to provide features such as that, or Christmas lights.

"Santa and other things are best done by the private sector," Mr McSorley suggested

He said that Section 75 concerns would probably require the council to give great emphasis to other calendar events.

Cllr McAleer said he didn't think that the council would be on dodgy ground in that it would also look favourably on any proposal brought to it by the Omagh Ethnic Community Support Group.