Write a commentQuestions have been asked about the Council's position on a proposed bridge over Newry Canal as part of the Southern Relief Road project.
The SRR is part of the Belfast Region City Deal and a report on the City Deal was discussed at last nights 12 October monthly Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
Crotlieve Councillor, Cllr Declan McAteer wanted to know if it was the council's plan to be able to have Tall Ships accessing the Albert Basin and thought it was important for them to take a position now before it got too far into the planning of the project.
The Southern Relief Road scheme is presently being progressed by the Department for Infrastructure on the basis of a fixed bridge over Newry Canal which would shut off access to tall masted ships forever so Cllr McAteers enquiry was certainly incredibly important.
Cllr McAteer said "Among many issues around the Southern Relief Road, one is the access to Newry Canal Basin by boat. Can I just say before it gets to far into the scheme again, the City Deal's proposals, because it will have an impact. Can I propose that we get the Council's corporate view on whether it is feasible or it is in the council's plan to have either tall ships or the type and size of draft and masts coming into the Albert Basin area. I think it's an appropriate time to do this, that at least council will have a view on it."
In reply Council Director, Conor Mallon said "As we know the project for the Southern Relief Road is a Department for Infrastructure led project and there is an opportunity to have a meeting soon with the Minister for Infrastructure, and that might be an opportunity to have a discussion around the council position."
Councillor McAteer wasn't happy with the Director's reply saying "I think that we need, the Council needs, to set a position before we start talking to ministers."
Intervening Councillor Andrew McMurray asked was this the right avenue for this to be brought up, to which Cllr Mc Ateer said "Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism, I think it fits perfectly yes." Adding "I just do think we need the committee or this council needs to get a position on it, and maybe an officer needs to bring a report to this committee on the feasibility of this and the viability of it and what the future plans are, because we could end up wasting a lot of time, people exploring one avenue either to have a bridge or bridges going over the canal and river that are not needed, or certainly that the council view is that they are needed, but I just think that it is appropriate that the council take a decision on this in terms of its plans going forward for tourism in the area especially Newry"
Mr Mallon replied "I'm happy to take on board your comments and your thoughts. I think it would need further debate and we would need to agree what the Terms of Reference of any report, study or assessment would be with respect to the Council, as opposed to the Southern Relief Road in its own right, so I'm happy to take away and try to develop something along them lines."
Maintain Navigation
In August Newry.ie asked Newry, Mourne and Down District Council a few questions about the Southern Relief Road project noting that in the AECOM Newry Southern Relief Road Stage 1 Scheme Assessment Report Final in June 2017, that council desires to "maintain navigation on the canal north of Victoria Lock and on the open river to the south of the lock"
We asked four questions:
1: Is this still the case with Newry, Mourne and Down Council in August 2020?
2: Does councils desire to "maintain navigation” include navigation for all ships that have used the facility over the past few years including tall masted ones?
3: Do Newry, Mourne and Down District Council still require a moveable bridge as part of the project with minimum air draft of 30M plus as stated in 2008 by the former Newry and Mourne Council?
4: As Newry, Mourne and Down Council are owners of the Newry Ship Canal have the council communicated the need for an opening/ movable bridge as part of the project, with the DFI in the past 2 years?
In their reply the council didn't directly answer any of the questions and said thay hadn't taken a position on the proposal, putting the onus on the Minister for Infrastructure to engage with local groups.
The council spokesperson said “At this time, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has not taken a position on the proposal for the new bridge on the Southern Relief Road. The Council understands that whilst the Department for Infrastructure is progressing the development of the Newry Southern Relief Road on the basis of a fixed bridge over the Newry Ship Canal, the option of an opening bridge has not been ruled out at this stage and the Minister for Infrastructure intends to engage with local groups in relation to the bridge proposals when COVID-19 restrictions permit.”
Work continues on the Southern Relief Road and an update on the WesleyJohnston.com website talks of a DFI Board meeting in Dec 2019 with minutes suggesting that the Department for Communities has raised concerns about the proposal for a fixed bridge over the Newry Canal (rather than a high bridge or a moveable bridge which would allow all shipping to pass unhindered). The minutes state that "DfC had raised an issue in relation to the construction of a fixed bridge on this scheme and that this may require discussion at Permanent Secretary level."
