By Alan Rodgers
ELDERLY people in a quiet residential area of Omagh are living in fear and feeling increasingly isolated following a spate of serious assaults.
Now urgent action is being demanded to address the problems faced by people in the Brookmount Road, Strule and Centenary Park areas.
The call from community worker Gerry McCusker follows upwards on a dozen incidents in months. He himself was attacked in the area at the start of the year.
Speaking to the UH, Mr McCusker of the Omawest Community Group, says a multi-agency approach is required to make the walkway between Brookmount Road and The Fold more accessible and safe for pedestrians.
"This is a very dangerous area to walk along despite being designed as a safe walkway along the road for people. But it just hasn't turned out like that," he said.
"We have seen quite a few assaults which haven't been reported. Some people have been approached recently and got away and there's no other area of the town that is as dangerous to walk along.
"This is a prime spot for attacks because it was primarily designed for people to go out and exercise. It's covered in and the footpaths are becoming strewn with glass.
"Councillors and the DRD have looked at this for some years without finding a resolution on how to make it safer.
"Hopefully, this won't be a case of people being forced into action when something serious happens."
A pensioner was set upon in an attack at the end of last week. Local people are also increasingly avoiding the area, preferring alternative routes or taking taxis.
Mr McCusker said he and others attacked in the area were still traumatised by the incident. Recent attacks, he said, have reflected a growing trend which has become apparent over the past year or so.
"Even yet I am still reluctant to walk in that area and I would be someone considered younger than the people living locally. It's an experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone and I find it very difficult walking along there," he added.
"This is definitely a big talking point of a real bad and dangerous area. It's a complete opposite of what the route was designed to achieve.
"The relevant authorities need to take a look at making it more open, perhaps by having the footpath on the outside. This requires a multi-agency approach and has to be the responsibility of Community Safety and the Roads Service."
The DRD says it has investigated the path parallel to the Great Northern Road from Dromore Road to Brookmount Road. While describing it as being in good condition, they are going to arrange to have the hedges faced and the verges trimmed.
A spokesperson for the PSNI advised people to select a route which is open to passing traffic, adding that walkers should try and ensure that they had company especially in isolated areas or while coming coming home from a night out.
