Latest news with #MourneandDownDistrictCouncil
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Gondola relocation plan a slap in the face for the people of Rostrevor, says protest group
The plan by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council was revealed on Wednesday afternoon. The local authority said it was 'exploring' the option of moving the gondola, also called the Mourne Gateway Project, to Kilbroney Forest Park. The project was originally earmarked for Newcastle, only to be axed earlier this month. Doubts were raised over the future of £30m in project funding offered through the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) after the National Trust refused to lease the council land on Slieve Donard for the project. The council said retaining the funding would require the agreement of all BRCD partners, and any proposal 'must meet the BRCD objectives to enhance the attractiveness of Northern Ireland as a world-class visitor destination'. Kilbroney Forest Park is owned and run by the council, which said the gondola had the potential to become a 'transformative visitor experience', with 'environmental sensitivity'a key part of the plan. The council added: 'The cable car route is yet to be determined, but it will not pass through the ancient oak woodland and development would be carried out in a sustainable manner that protects the park's natural assets.' The council also pointed out that the project was supported by the Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce, which described it as 'a game-changer for tourism in the region'. Others in the area, however, are staunchly opposed. Bronagh Vos, from Rostrevor, started the 'Say NO to Gondola in Rostrevor' Facebook page on Wednesday evening, with more than 150 people joining the group overnight. A poll on the page shows overwhelming opposition to the project. Bronagh, who uses the park daily, said the council's decision to announce the project without community consultation showed a 'complete disregard' for the people of Rostrevor. 'The proposal to relocate the failed gondola project to Rostrevor, without any form of public consultation with the local community, existing businesses and clubs, is unacceptable and alarming,' she added. 'This decision shows a complete disregard for the people who live here, the integrity of our landscape, and the principles of transparent, community-led planning.' She said Rostrevor was not a 'dumping ground' for rejected projects, and called for the 'abandonment of any plans being advanced behind closed doors without local community input'. Independent councillor Mark Gibbons said he was notified of the plan just minutes before the announcement was made. He said the council's lack of transparency was 'demoralising' and the decision was a 'hurried mess'. 'There are many other things this money could be spent on, such as the renovation of Warrenpoint Baths, a community centre for Warrenpoint and the upgrading of Kilbroney Park pitches, to name just a few,' he added. 'The people of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor have waited long enough and have paid enough rates over the decades to warrant proper respect. 'This project seems to be a hurried mess of disrespect and squander.' Mr Gibbons warned that his confidence in the council was 'at tipping point' and described the authority's lack of notice as worrying. 'I would call for a public consultation on this matter immediately. It really should have been done before it was announced,' he said. 'There needs to be measures put in place where the community is not being kept in the dark and the council can provide us with basic information, not just hoodwink us into these ludicrous decisions. 'St Bronagh's GAA and the Rossowen soccer club have been campaigning for changing facilities for the past few years, and are getting nowhere. 'The irony of this is that if it goes ahead, the first thing people will see on their gondola ride is young children getting changed in a ditch on the side of the pitches because the money was not spent on what is needed most.' Bronagh's GAA secretary Richy Byrne said his club and Rossowen FC had been campaigning for changing facilities for the past five years. He described the announcement as a 'total shock' and said it was 'hugely frustrating' after lobbying for basic facilities for half a decade. Mr Byrne continued: 'It makes us wonder, was there any intent on behalf of the council to fulfil the needs of young kids in the area, or are they just concerned with looking elsewhere?' The clubs asked the council to 'make this project an urgent priority, to take a firm grip of the application, and bring it to planning for a decision without any further delay so that work can begin to give the local area, our members and community a facility that is fit for purpose, on par with other council lead facilities across the country, and something we can be proud of'. However, Sinn Fein's Sinead Ennis welcomed the relocation plan. The South Down MLA said: 'It is welcome news that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are doing all they can to secure the £30m BRCD investment in the area. 'This would be a game changer, helping to unlock the full tourism potential of Kilbroney Forest Park. 'Sinn Fein is ambitious for Kilbroney. We want to work with others to build on its well-established popularity and ensure it continues to thrive as a destination for locals and visitors alike. 'I believe that, with the right investment Kilbroney Park, could become the number one adventure tourism destination on the island of Ireland.' Ms Ennis added that this development, on top of the upcoming opening of Narrow Water Bridge, would draw visitors to the area. 'This ambitious project could have huge social and economic benefits for the area,' she continued. 'Protecting the environment is central to this proposal. The exact route for the cable car is still under consideration, but it will not cross the ancient oak woodland. 'Any development will follow sustainable practices to safeguard the park's natural features. 'I look forward to seeing how this project develops and the positive impact it will have on Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and the wider South Down region.' Newry, Mourne and Down District Council was asked if it would launch a public consultation. While it did not address this directly, it said: 'The Council is now actively exploring a proposal to deliver the Mourne Mountains Gateway project in Kilbroney Forest Park and looks forward to working closely with community stakeholders, environmental experts, BRCD and tourism partners to develop the Kilbroney Park proposal to ensure it reflects the shared ambition for a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future.'
Belfast Telegraph
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Paul Givan rapped for refusal to rethink ‘flawed' £20m programme for schools
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's active and healthy communities committee voted in December to lobby Paul Givan to reconsider the use of the 'Raise' formula for education amid fears deprived children will not benefit from the cash injection. Raise was supposed to help address educational underachievement and tackle educational disadvantage. However, it has been criticised after the eligibility criteria controversially moved from free school meal entitlement levels to include other indicators, meaning many better off grammar schools and a prep school, where parents usually pay fees, could benefit. The council sent a letter to the Department of Education in March raising concerns about more affluent schools benefiting over the less well-off. A response from Mr Givan provided last week said: 'I decided that the programme should be a regional programme, which will invest in disadvantage across all local government districts in Northern Ireland, including Newry, Mourne and Down. 'This will embed collaborative working in a high number of localities that can be a long lasting legacy after funding ends. 'I appreciate we have not been able to include all areas of educational disadvantage within NI and that there will always be areas that would wish to be included.' The Raise scheme, partially funded by the Irish Government's Shared Island Fund, was launched last October. However, major concerns were highlighted after the department's website identified almost 40 grammar schools and a prep school charging up to £5,000 a year as potentially eligible for funding. Mr Givan said he would have liked to stretch the programme further, 'but the funding available is finite and therefore an approach to prioritisation has been necessary'. 'I have prioritised investment in those areas with the lowest levels of educational attainment so that all children and young people can reach their potential. Ultimately the success of the programme will be determined on how well it improves educational outcomes, so it is right that I am investing in areas with the lowest levels of attainment,' he said. 'I am delighted that the programme will have a significant presence in Newry, Mourne and Down. This is a very important programme with significant potential to do things differently, to facilitate greater collaboration across government, local government and in partnerships with the voluntary and community sector and many others including schools. 'I welcome the ongoing engagement with the Raise programme team towards the development of a strategic plan for Newry.' Sinn Fein councillor Kate Murphy said: 'This is a very disappointing response. 'It fails to address the many concerns that educationalists and wider society have about the Raise programme, the methodology selected and how it has been applied. 'The first principle of education is that it should be child centred. Many schools are already chronically underfunded and running on deficit budgets. 'The Raise programme recognises neither of these facts and uses a flawed formula to select who will be funded and who, yet again, will not.'
ITV News
01-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
National Trust halt Mourne Mountains gondola and visitor centre project
Plans for a cable car through the Mourne Mountains have been dealt a blow after the National Trust said it wouldn't lease out the land needed for the controversial project. The charity has said the gateway scheme would put more pressure on habitats damaged in recent years, especially those impacted by wildfires. However, the local council has said the project would be a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' for the area. The National Trust is responsible for parts of the Eastern Mournes Special Area of Conservation. The area includes Thomas's Quarry on Slieve Donard which is the proposed site for the £44m gondola station and visitor centre. The trust previously expressed their concerns about the potential environmental impact of the project. In a statement the National Trust said the plans 'would risk placing additional pressures on already degraded upland habitats.' The charity added that they cannot support a project of such scale that would invite 'substantial visitor numbers into fragile and threatened areas' therefore they would 'not be considering a lease at Thomas's Quarry.' In a statement, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said they are 'disappointed' by the decision not to grant the lease. 'This decision is particularly frustrating as a comprehensive environmental impact assessment is already underway, to address the specific concerns raised by the trust.' They added that the project was a 'huge economic loss' for the area and had 'tremendous potential' to create employment and attract up to 365,000 visitors per year by 2029. South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe has described the halt as 'deeply concerning'. Ms Forsythe said it 'could mean the loss of £30m government funding' from the Belfast Region City Deal which would be 'a significant setback' for the local economy.' She added, 'we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away.' However, Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray has described the move as 'incredibly welcome' due to 'environmental issues associated with the project…as well as concerns around economic viability.' Mr McMurray termed the project as 'deeply controversial' and 'extremely unpopular' with many local residents.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mourne Gondola: National Trust insist project cannot go ahead
The National Trust has said it will not lease land it manages in the Mourne Mountains for the development of a cable car up Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest proposed £44m project would have involved the development of a 1km cable car structure from Donard Park up to a disused the National Trust have said the project should not go ahead in light of the "fragile and threatened" state of the Mourne landscape. In a statement, they said their responsibility is to "restore nature in the Mournes, whilst balancing safe and sustainable access for people".Last month, there were almost 150 wildfires causing a devastating impact on habitats in the mountain range. 'Never endorsed the project' The National Trust is responsible for the land in the Eastern Mournes Special Area of Conservation including Slieve Donard and Thomas Quarry - the site earmarked for the proposed gondola station and visitor centre. In a statement on Thursday, the Trust confirmed that the proposed project would "risk placing additional pressures on already degraded upland habitats".It would therefore "not be considering a lease at Thomas's Quarry".It said that it has engaged with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on the projects proposals but have "consistently expressed our serious concerns" as far back as eight years ago and "encouraged other options to be considered"."We have never endorsed the project and have not been a partner in its development," it added. The Trust said their concerns about the upland habitats not being in a "favourable condition" are shared by local people. Last year, a petition of about 6,000 signatures opposing the Newcastle project was presented to the Stormont was allocated £30m of funding from the Belfast Region City behind the petition said they have environmental and economic concerns about the viability of the scheme that hopes to attract about 350,000 annual was also a number businesspeople who supported the project as they believed it would help create a year-round tourist economy for the region.
Belfast Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Mournes gondola project: Major hurdle as National Trust confirms no lease will be given to build at planned site
Latest | The National Trust has confirmed that no lease will be given to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to build a gondola on Thomas Quarry. The area was earmarked for the proposed site where a gondola was planned to be constructed. The Mourne Gateway project is estimated to cost as much as £50m, with £30m of that coming from the Belfast City Regional Deal. Newry, Mourne and Down District council has committed to contributing £14m plus any additional costs. The proposed plans envisaged a visitor centre and 'gondola experience' in the Thomas Quarry area of the mountain range. This plan, however, will no longer be going forward. In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Trust, which owns the land on Thomas Quarry, said: 'With the known existing recreational and other pressures on the protected areas, as a conservation charity we cannot support a project of this scale that would be inviting substantial visitor numbers into fragile and threatened areas of the Mourne landscape and therefore we will not be considering a lease at Thomas Quarry.' They added that they have informed council and the Department for the Economy of their position. 'We will continue to work with the council and others to consider alternative projects with significantly less risk and environmental impact.' They reiterated that they had 'consistently expressed serious concerns' over the project and that they had never endorsed it. This is, however, the first time the charity has made their stance clear on the project. It is understood that Arup, the project's consultancy team, revealed new designs to elected representatives at a behind-closed-doors meeting on February 24. The council agreed in October last year to appoint a specialist consultant to 'provide professional input into the project during the feasibility, design development, procurement and construction stage'. The cost of this position to ratepayers remains unknown. Around 200 people attended a public meeting about the development last month. It was organised by SOD (Save Our Donard) Off, which is also behind the upcoming parade in Newcastle. The March to save Donard will set off from Down Road in the town at midday on Saturday, May 10. Protesters will make their way down Main Street before dispersing at the entrance to Donard Park — the proposed gondola starting point — by 1pm.
