Omagh businesses warn of challenges as gas works hit town trade

THE president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce has issued a stark warning to councillors, MLAs, and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), claiming “the scale and duration of gas-laying works are having a considerable impact on local businesses, their customers, and the wider community ” - and could be threatening the survival of small businesses.

In a strongly worded letter, Chamber president John Edgar accused authorities and contractors of poor planning and weak communication, leaving local traders upset as customers avoid the gridlock and restricted access.

“Whilst we recognise the importance of infrastructure improvements, the reality is that many of our members have reported a marked reduction in trade,” Mr Edgar wrote.

“Congestion, accessibility issues and a lack of information have created a perfect storm that is hurting livelihoods.”

The Chamber is demanding urgent intervention, calling for phased scheduling, better signage, and direct consultation with business representatives before future works begin.

“Local businesses form the backbone of Omagh’s economy, and it is vital that their ability to operate is safeguarded during essential infrastructure projects,” Mr Edgar warned.

Frustration on the ground is mounting. Local publican Colm Broderick said while he welcomed the long-awaited Gas to the West project, businesses were being left in the dark.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, but communication has been very poor,” he said.

“We were told George Street would close on September 10, yet it was shut earlier - and the one-way system is already causing chaos. If it drags on, it could hit Christmas trade.”

He added that elderly customers attending events at St Joseph’s Hall were forced to walk long distances due to closures.

“The work only takes place at night, which helps, but the impact on off-licences and takeaways is already being felt,” he said.

Elsewhere, popular High Street restaurant The Kitchen was forced to shut its doors entirely after water supplies were cut during pipe-laying.

“I got a phone call at 8.30am from my staff saying we had no water - three chefs and four front of house ready to go, and we couldn’t open,” said owner Kate Golding McKeough.

“The cobbles outside are dug up, the water’s still off, and I’ve no idea when we can trade again. You simply can’t run a restaurant without water.”

She added: “The foreman was helpful, but missing even a few days’ trade is a huge blow. Better communication could have prevented this.”

Contractor Evolve announced last month that its latest phase of gas upgrade works will roll across central Omagh this autumn, closing major streets including High Street, Market Street, and Dublin Road.

While the company insists traffic management systems and nighttime closures will keep disruption to a minimum, many local businesses are unconvinced.

Evolve’s head of engineering Mark Davidson said the upgrades would bring long-term benefits: “Once complete, many more homes and businesses in Omagh will be able to connect to our state-of-the-art network, reducing carbon emissions while enjoying the many additional benefits of gas.”