Business owner in Clones says they have been negatively impacted by unannounced closure of Fermanagh Street

A business owner in Clones says they have been negatively impacted by an unannounced closure of Fermanagh Street this week.

The closure of the street occurred on Saturday the 6^th of March at 6pm and ran until the 9^th of March at 9pm.

The Ballybay-Clones Municipal District issued a statement to Northern Sound outlining that the work was to provide water and sewerage connections as part of the Clones Renewal Scheme and this road closure was advertised in the Northern Standard on the 18^th of February.

However, the owner of Matthews, Eamon Mc Caughey, says businesses were not directly contacted and the closure was counterproductive and damaging particularly to businesses at the bottom of the street.

Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound Eamon said that business owners on the diamond are not being listened to and there is no retail strategy for the street:

Here is the full statement from the Ballybay Clones MD:

MCC Response to Northern Sound query

This closure relates to work to provide water and sewerage connections to the houses being constructed on Fermanagh Street as part of the Clones Renewal Scheme.

As these works were substantial,  a road closure was required.

In order to minimise disruption to traffic and business, the contractor applied for a road closure for the following period 18.00 Saturday 6^th March 2021 to 21.00 Tuesday 9^th March 2021.

This road closure was advertised in the Northern Standard on the following dates:

• Thursday 18^th February 2021

This notice noted that:

Any interested person may lodge an objection to the closing of the above mentioned roads with the Senior Engineer, Roads & Transportation Department, Monaghan County Council, MTEK II Building, Knockaconny, Monaghan not later than Tuesday 23/02/21.

Any objections must be clearly marked on envelope “Objection To Road Closure”.

No objections were received.

Thursday 25^th February 2021

This notice confirmed the road closure dates/times and alternative travel routes.

These advertisements were in accordance with the requirements of the Roads Act 1993 (Section 75).

Fermanagh Street re-opened to traffic this morning

Monaghan County Council apologies for any inconvenience that this road closure has caused.