McCreesh Park in Newry to be sold - CORRECTION

A Newry playground could be set for sale on the open market following approval by Councillors during an 'in committee' agenda item at last weeks Strategy, Policy and Resources meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

In October 2018, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) identified McCreesh Park as “surplus to requirements” despite community support for the playground being retained resulting in a court case in 2019.
A judicial review finding stated that residents would need to be consulted on the future of the playground.
However, a decision on its future was made at this month’s strategy, policy and resources committee in confidential session.

In open session, committee chairperson, Tierna Howie (Alliance) said: “Surplus asset report, on the proposal of Cllr Mathers (Sinn Fein) and * seconded by Cllr Lewis (DUP) the following was agreed.

“To approve the marketing of the asset detailed in the officer’s report through the D1 process for a further period of six months to identify any interested parties.

“Then at the end of the six month period if there is no interest shown, to progress disposal of the asset through sale on the open market.”

The D1 process is a stage employed by the council to seek interest in the surplus lands from government and community bodies at the market value.

It is now over a year since (September 2023) councillors were given a behind closed doors update on efforts to dispose of the ‘surplus assets’ site at Patrick Street.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that a housing association had shown initial interest, but this did not progress.

The city centre park has been a long-running source of controversy, with unionists bitterly opposed to it being named after IRA hunger striker Raymond McCreesh.

McCreesh, from Camlough was one of 10 republican prisoners who died in the 1981 Maze Prison hunger strikes.

Children in the Patrick Street area, where the Raymond McCreesh park is located, were provided with a consolidation playground at Martin’s Lane in 2022, which serves both them and young people in the Barcroft area. The Martin’s Lane park is around half a mile away.

The McCreesh site is still in recreational use including a  recent community family festival weekend held in August with financial assistance from NMDDC, the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships Programme and the Department for Communities.

* CORRECTION 5pm 23 October

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has now discovered that the decision, which was made in confidential session was not seconded by the DUP, but by the SDLP, despite the committee chairperson declaring the former.

In open session on October 17, committee chairperson, Tierna Howie (Alliance) said in error: “Surplus asset report, on the proposal of Cllr Mathers (Sinn Fein) and seconded by Cllr Lewis (DUP) the following was agreed.”
As the decision was made behind closed doors, the physical showing of hands or verbal support by the councillors would not have been known by the media.

The LDRS contacted Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) to clarify the matter. - A council spokesperson said: “Further to your query, the council can advise that this was an administrative error, which will be rectified at the forthcoming council meeting.