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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have said they are disappointed at today's 1 May, decision by the National Trust, not to grant a lease for the Thomas's Quarry site on Slieve Donard, Newcastle where the Council's Mourne Mountains Gateway Project was based.
It seems that council see the National Trust's decision as the end of the line for the project which would have seen a visitors centre on the slopes of Slieve Donard accessed via a Gondola ride from Newcastle. A council spokesperson said it would be a huge project economic loss for the area.
“The project - featuring a gondola from Donard Park to a new centre at Thomas's Mountain - had tremendous potential to revitalise our region creating significant employment and attracting up to 365,000 yearly visitors by 2029.
“The National Trust's decision not to grant a lease result in a huge project economic loss for the area, undermining a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Newcastle and the surrounding region. We understand that this will be devastating for the local area which is dependent on a rural economy. Many locals welcomed the project to further bolster Newcastle and the Mournes as a global tourist attraction.
“We are currently engaging with the Department for the Economy and the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) partners to consider next steps."
The council spokesperson also explained that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment was already underway, to consider and address the specific concerns raised by the Trust.
A key aspect of the Project was what they explained as "the unique opportunity to consider visitor management to the wider Mournes area alongside the specific project location." The council said this would have included proposed controls and interventions that would have further enhanced, protected and restored the fragile environment.
