Write a commentA one-off opportunity that will NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN
Tomorrow night 2 October sees a motion come before Newry, Mourne and Down Council that if passed could make a remarkable difference to the everyday lives of every woman, man and child in Newry City not to mention being an attraction in its own right for many visitors to our city.
Yes the motion if passed would see the council and stakeholders working towards the provision of a 15 acre Public Park on the council held Albert Basin site, a natural place to enjoy the great outdoors with the added bonus of a maritime element as well as a long asked for skate park. The health and wellbeing benefits of a local park are well documented and something Newry has been without for too long!
After many years of people asking for a Park for Newry and getting nowhere, now is the time for local councillors to follow the will of the people, seize the opportunity and for once say a resounding YES to over 11,000 people who have signed a petition, the 80 groups, 8 schools and local medical practices who are all demanding access to something all other cities in Ireland already have, a Newry City Park!
It would be a shame if the park motion tomorrow night wasn't allowed an open vote in the council chamber and instead referred to the ERT Committee by the Chairperson where it quite possibly could be quietly 'disappeared' over time.
An open and transparent vote in the council chamber tomorrow night is what we at Newry.ie ask for and so should you!
The Motion in Full
'This Council confirms its commitment to a full, 15-acre community park project on the Albert Basin site in Newry. The Council recognises that the Albert Basin site was given to the people of Newry in 1986 and that a commitment was given at that time to develop it as a recreation and amenity area for the generations of the future. It also recognises the work of community activists in presenting their plans for the park through a petition with over 10,000 signatures.
Council commits to delivering a park in parallel with other capital works projects in Newry within the next Council term. The Council shall within 3 months establish a task and finish group reporting to the Capital Projects Working Group, consisting of elected members, community representatives and a dedicated Council officer to establish plans to move the Albert Basin park project forward and investigate funding options’
