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A massive store on the Albert Basin site is to be demolished, with an environmental clean up as part of the process. The building has an asbestos roof which would require specialist procedures. The store contains council material plus other third party items which will be returned to the owners. At one stage it stored a replica Bessbrook Tram Carriage. The concrete area around the store contains many items including skateboarding facilities that were bought by Council over 20 years ago but never used. It's not known if this area will be cleaned up as part of the works.
Tuesday night's Sustainability and Environment Committee meeting (21 March) saw Councillors approve the findings of a business case for the works. The agenda item entitled "Business Case for the demolition of Albert Basin Store and associated environmental clean" was discussed in closed session so further details are scarce.
Following closed session Councillor Oonagh Magennis said that Councillors had approved the content of the report and approved the findings of the business cases presented.
Cllr Magennis said "The Business Case concluded that option 3 was the preferred option. Option 3 will see the appointment of a contractor under the councils civil engineering and minor works framework to demolish the store and undertake an environmental clean up, plant and materials to be retained.
"Once environmentally cleaned items owned by third parties will be returned to them through signed agreements and to liase with user groups close by the store on the waterway."
The store was extensively damaged in a fire in May 2021. The Albert Basin site is the location for the proposed Newry City Park. It's not known if demolition work will have an effect on the building of the park where progress to date has been painfully slow.
The decision will be subject to ratification at the next meeting of full council.
