The new pedestrian and vehicular access to Lough Lannagh from the Newport Road is causing problems, a town councillor has stated. A number of months ago, the town council constructed a small parking area at Lough Lannagh accessible from the Newport Road as part of the Riverside Enhancement Scheme. The access path in existence for years, which runs adjacent to Blackfort Manor, has been contributing to anti-social activities recently such as late-night parties and public drinking. As a result, the new parking and turnabout area has caused noise levels and public order incidents to increase at night causing distress to nearby local residents.
“There was some incidents in the area, such as garden furniture being taken from outside a nearby house to be used down by the old castle for late night drinking,” said Cllr Deere. “Cars have also been driving up the access path at dangerous speeds late at night, dropping people down for late night parties. This is causing considerable distress to many of the local residents in Blackfort Manor and the Newport Road, which would otherwise be a very peaceful area. I am placing a motion with the town council asking that the gate at the end of the path be closed at night because the path itself is a right of way to the agricultural land attached to it. There was a gate at the end of the road before entering the turnabout area; this should be rebuilt and locked at night to prevent further disturbance.”
