A MOTION calling for the upgrade of the A4/N16 received unanimous support at the full Fermanagh and Omagh District Council meeting on March 2.

Brought forward by the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the motion read: “Fermanagh Omagh District Council (FODC) welcomes the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) commitments to achieve regional balance in infrastructure investment, notes the importance of strategic and regional connectivity to the south-west of Northern Ireland and calls on DfI to begin feasibility and design work to dual the A4 from Ballygawley to Enniskillen.

“[It also calls] to begin discussions immediately with the Irish government and the county councils of Sligo, Cavan and Leitrim, to seek a cross-Border agreement to also dual the A4 from Enniskillen to join with a new N16 dual carriageway to Sligo.

“The dualling and upgrading of the A4/N16 corridor from Ballygawley to Enniskillen to Sligo, would act as the single biggest driver of economic development and regeneration in County Fermanagh in a generation.

“[it would be] helping to create jobs, attract inward investment, maximise our tourism industry potential, improve road safety and improve the connectivity of our South West Acute Hospital with other parts of Northern Ireland and counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.

“The Council reiterates its call for DfI to deliver the Enniskillen bypass and asks that DfI ensures the bypass will be future-proofed to ensure it meets the technical demands and specifications of connecting it to a new A4 dual carriageway.”

UUP Council group leader, Victor Warrington, welcomed the unanimous support for the motion: “The Council will now write to the Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon seeking to begin feasibility and design work and to commence discussions immediately with the Irish government and the County Councils of Sligo, Cavan and Leitrim to seek a cross-Border agreement.”