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An environmental report which potentially led to the collapse of the Mourne Gateway project was the subject of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has finally confirmed the confidential status of the report to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) a month after a media query.
It can now be revealed that details in the secret document for the £44m tourism plan had “reinforced “significant project concerns” to the landowners, the National Trust.
The LDRS contacted the National Trust (April 29) to ask if it had any concerns over the Mourne Mountain gondola project after viewing the council’s commissioned ‘Environmental and Ecological Review’ by RSK (Ireland) Ltd (June 2022).
A spokesperson said: “The report reinforced a broad range of significant project concerns that the National Trust have consistently raised, including environmental, infrastructure and highlighted the importance of assessing alternatives.”
The LDRS asked if the National Trust was asked to sign a NDA. It replied:”No, but we were asked not to share the report as it was in draft format.
“The report was led by the council so they were responsible for determining the audience and subsequent distribution.”
Just days later (1 May), the National Trust refused to grant NMDDC a lease of its lands at Thomas’s Quarry in order to facilitate a gondola ride between two tourist centres in Newcastle.The Co Down project first mooted in 2013 as the district’s ‘Giant’s Causeway’ attraction, then collapsed.
The local authority’s ambitions for the Mourne Mountains was supported by £30m through the BRCD (Belfast Region City Deal) with the rest from NMDDC including any other costs.
When completed the tourist attraction was predicted to gain over 365,000 visitors a year.
The LDRS had asked NMDDC (28 April) if the environment document prepared by RSK (Ireland) Ltd would be made available to the public. The council finally responded (29 May).
A council spokesperson said: “The information within the Environmental and Ecological Review Report on the Mourne Gateway Project prepared by RSK (Ireland) Ltd is subject to the terms of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
“Regular updates on projects are provided through the council’s internal governance structures; the Environmental and Ecological Review Report on the Mourne Gateway Project has been shared with elected members of council as part of this process.”
However, the transparency and openness of sharing the RSK document with councillors has been brought in to question by an elected member, who claims a number of official requests seeking the information were refused.
It has now also been alleged that the details of the report should have been shared with reps at key decision making times on the Mourne Gateway project.
Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale said:”The (2022) RSK report gives a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and difficulties of the Mourne Gateway project.
“It is my opinion that the report could have acted as a guide or handbook to councillors tasked with making budgetary decisions and to provide a better idea of the encounters involved.
“As councillors on the programme board we had access to 2017 information included in a summary of the Outline Business Case, but this particular report was left out.
“I had previously asked for all environmental reports carried out within the last five years and was told there was one but was denied access.”
Cllr Truesdale added: “In order to receive the report I had to go through an EIR (Environmental Information Regulations) request and was refused, then an internal review, which was again refused and then contacted the Information Commissioner’s Office.
“The report was then sent to all councillors on the programme board in January (2025) and marked as ‘confidential’.”
She added: “If I was to look at this entire project objectively without opinion I would say that clear warnings have been ignored.
”Lack of transparency and shambolic engagement have been constant themes since 2016 and rather than confronting concerns council sidestepped debate by asking councillors and the public to ‘trust the process’ in the regulatory mechanisms.
“This comes down to managing perception while maintaining project momentum and many have seen right through it.”
