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Newry's unique maritime heritage should not be extinguished with the 12 metre fixed bridge over Newry Canal, that Department for Infrastructure are planning to build according to Tanya Duffy, Chairperson, Inland Waterways Association Newry and Armagh.
It follows a letter to council from DfI Permanent Secretary Dr Julie Harrison (See Fixed bridge plans on Canal go ahead ) Duffy is requesting Newry, Mourne and Down District Council tell DfI that they will refuse to move ahead with a fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal, the waterway owned by Council. She pointed out that access to the canal always scored higher than value for money during the departments consultation phase.
Duffy said “It is extremely disheartening to see that the DFI are rolling ahead with their plan of cutting off the history and the future of the Newry Canal to save a buck and the tone of the letter suggesting that even if the money was available that they really don’t want to deal with a movable bridge “in their experience”.
"Throughout the consultation process, the DFI stated that it would place access to the canal as a key priority and in the scorings from the multiple consultations full canal access always scored higher than value for money."
The IWAI representative continued "At this point in time our branch requests that the Council reply with a refusal to move ahead with the fixed bridge, while beginning to look at all identified options for funding of the moveable bridge. The ideas are there it just needs the right people motivated enough in the council and relevant departments to approach any funding streams available to the project as Newry city and the Canal at the heart of it deserves so much more."
Speaking of the flotilla of boats that came up the canal this week Duffy added "The Carlingford Cruising week flotilla that made their way down the Canal to Albert Basin on the 1st of August gives the perfect opportunity to showcase what we have right in front of us and what it could be. The people at Victoria Lock and the Quays that came to watch the boats arrive and join in the fun created a much needed buzz around the city centre."
"Unfortunately the majority of these boats would not be able to make it with a 12m fixed bridge. We shouldn’t let it be another nail in the coffin of Newry’s unique maritime history and the future we as a community deserve to have.”
