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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have appointed consultants to carry out feasibility studies into two new greenways for our area and it is expected that these will be underway this month. It follows an allocation of £25,000 for each proposal from the Department for Infrastructure to Newry, Mourne and Down Council in November 2021. It is expected that the results of the feasibility studies will be given to Councillors later this year.
The one that will argubly have the most impact on our city is a proposed Greenway linking the Newry Canal Towpath beside WIN Business Park with the Carlingford Lough Greenway at the Albert Basin. This could potentially travel between Newry Canal and Clanrye River down Sugarhouse Quay, taking the existing (presently closed) path behind Newry Town Hall, through Newry Bus Station and Canal Bank Car Park to the Greenway at the Albert Basin.
The route would completely open up the City making it a much more attractive place to journey through on foot or bicycle and coupled with the already started greenway link between Victoria Lock and Omeath will have the effect of making the two active travel routes, one continuous greenway all the way from Carlingford to Portadown.
The second greenway proposed is the Newry to Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Greenway, a route that would be most welcome, especially in helping make the Warrenpoint to Rostrevor link safe to travel on foot or bicycle by families. At present the narrowness of the route and lack of proper footpaths make it a difficult and potentially hazardous journey for active travel.
Newry.ie asked the Council for a progress report earlier this month. A Council Spokesperson said "Further to the Department for Infrastructure offer of funding for two feasibility studies – Newry City Greenway linking the Newry Canal Towpath and Carlingford Lough Greenway, and Newry to Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Greenway – the Council undertook a procurement process to appoint consultants for both studies. With consultants now in place, the feasibility studies will get underway in April 2022, with a report due back at Council later this year."
