Write a comment
Newry City Councillor Roisin Mulgrew has said that her party is fully committed to the regeneration of Newry city and states projects envisaged such as the new Arts and Theatre complex, the new Civic Centre and 15 acre City Park are key to this.
Cllr Mulgrew said “Not only will these projects regenerate our City and communities but the potential for the sustainability and development of both Daisy Hill Hospital and the Southern Region College should not be underestimated.
"We have always believed that a full and comprehensive consultation is essential for the success of the projects proposed. Issues such as Car Parking are a major concern and must be addressed."
The statement follows a decision at Newry, Mourne and Down Council's, Strategy, Policy and Regeneration meeting to adopt an amended motion proposed by Cllr Michael Savage that agreed to await consultants report on the * proposed Newry Civic Centre and not to go to tender or submit a planning application on this scheme until this report is re-evaluated by Council and the recommendations of that re-evaluation are put to an extensive public consultation. Sinn Féin voted against the motion.
The Newry City Councillor added "Sinn Féin are happy to support the continuing of the planning process. We fail to understand the rationale of hindering the development of any of these projects by blocking the submission of a planning application or stalling a tendering process.
"We face the twin challenges of recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainties of Brexit. On top of this lies the legacy of over a decade of Tory imposed austerity which has choked our public services and communities of much needed support.
"The only way to recover from these difficulties is for Newry to grow, to create jobs and make Newry the destination for investors. Our response must be one of investment – in people, communities, infrastructure, public services, and local business”
* Correction 2pm 19/8
Replaced "regeneration project" with "proposed Newry Civic Centre" as the motion was about the Civic Centre specifically and not the broader project.
