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Bridge building was very much the order of the day for some Councillors at last night's May meeting (7/5/24) of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, where a letter from Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd was discussed. The letter detailed his endorsement of the DfI Permanent Secretary's decision to put a fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal.
Unfortunately for Newry though it's actually a case of 'burning ones bridges' as once the concrete is poured it will spell an end to almost 300 years of Maritime History for our City.
Newry City Councillors Killian Feehan and Doire Finn condemned Minister O'Dowd's decision and Cllr Finn proposed that the Minister be asked to attend Council to explain it. What followed was extraordinary. After some type of disagreement on how to proceed with the proposal, and the meeting seemingly paused for around 15 minutes to discuss what the correct procedure to continue was, two Mournes DUP Councillors unequivocally praised the Sinn Féin Ministers decision and then proceeded to tell the people of Newry that it was the best and most beneficial decision for them.
DUP Councillors Henry Reilly and Glyn Hanna (a Board Member of Warrenpoint Port) heaped praise on Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd for "one of the most difficult decisions and forward thinking decisions that has been taken in this area"
Councillor Henry Reilly spoke first "I think the minister has made a very, very difficult decision on this. It's not my party and I know nothing about the man personally but I think he's shown incredible courage. Because every haulier in Northern Ireland and the east coast of Ireland want that road in place as quickly as possible to take all that heavy traffic out of the town centre in Newry. It's beneficial to the health and well-being of the people of Newry.
The bridges hinder the development of the canal - So lets build another bridge that hinders the development of the canal
Not content to leave it at that Cllr Reilly then proceeded to change the subject saying that we should concentrate on elevating the bridges on the canal between Newry and Portadown, seemingly not seeing the irony in wanting to alter bridges to allow boats access, while at the same time wanting to install a bridge that wouldn't allow boats access.
"Chairman the biggest thing about that area and the canal is the bridges over the canal that hinder the development of the Ulster Canal [sic], right up to Portadown and into Lough Neagh and all the opportunities that that gives, and that's what we should be concentrating on, getting those wee low bridges elevated, but on this issue I think I have to support the Minister's agreement."
He continued again "I'm sure it was not easy because there is that desire to have that lifting bridge to be able to lift, maybe once every 20 years or something it would be needed, so I just can't see how it could be justified in this instance Chairman, given the real demands that affect people's health and the business community. I think we have to accept what has been done in this instance Chairman and I propose that we do accept the situation as it is at present and move on." It should be noted that suggesting that an opening bridge would need to open just 'once every 20 years' is completely untrue.
Forward thinking decision
Councillor Glyn Hanna thought Council shouldn't invite the Minister and said his 'forward thinking' decision should be accepted and we should move on and block ship access to Newry.
"I would propose we make an amendment to this proposal in that I believe it's unnecessary so it is, bringing a minister here to explain one of the most difficult decisions, and forward thinking decisions that has been taken in this area, so I would propose an amendment that we accepted what the SDLP Councillor has said but we move on and Minister O'Dowd is not needed to come to speak to us"
Following a show of hands Cllr Finn's proposal was accepted and Council will invite Minister O'Dowd to meet them and explain his decision.
