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When a New Year arrives many are filled with hope and expectation of a year that is better than the last one, While no-one can be sure of that there are some signs that several long awaited and much needed projects in Newry City might at long last start to progress at a pace.
Pairc an Iur
Newry City needs a proper park and while the community campaign for it has been going on for over ten years, progress has been incredibly slow. Plans to have the park completed by May 2027 as stated need diggers on the ground and fast. Optimism is our middle name though and Newry.ie understand that the next step, an application for full planning permission for the park (albeit phase one) is to be submitted in February 2025. If that manages to be passed this year we should see some progress at last on the site before year end.
Theatre
Regarding the new Theatre on the site of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Planning Permission has been approved for renovation of the Town Hall and the provision of an around 255 seater Theatre (double the capacity of the old arts centre). This should see proper progress being made in the next few months on that site barring other complications. A first stage that involves demolition of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre is a bitter pill to swallow for many. Since the arts centre was closed due to Covid and not re-opened, the city has seriously suffered from a lack of arts infrastructure and this needs to be fixed and soon. One of the consequences of the theatre planning process has been that groups have been unable to book the Town Hall facility more than a month or so in advance resulting in Newry losing out to the Armagh Market Place when Newry Youth Performance Arts moved their productions to there.
Greenway
The final piece in the Carlingford Lough Greenway route between Victoria Lock and the border will open at some stage in 2025, though when exactly is unknown. Progress is continuing with the provision of a 1km boardwalk along the mouth of the Newry River but there remains much to do. What is known though is that the route will be incredibly popular and we look forward very much to having a safe route to Omeath for cyclists and walkers.
Housing
Housing in the City Centre has progressed in 2024 with Ogle House completed and apartments at Sugar Island nearing completion. Extensive works also continue on the site of St Clare's. All that is needed is for the Merchant's Quay/ Cornmarket development to get under way in 2025, something that would bring much needed optimism to a run-down part of the city. More people living in our city centre will contribute to making the area safer and more attractive to further progress.
City Centre
Hill Street especially can feel like an unwelcoming place in the evenings and on Sunday's with most properties including restaurants closing at 5pm. It is really good to see Loft 27 and Pepper and Salt opening in Hill Street on Sunday's. Local businesses need your support to survive in 2025 and that includes service providers, shops, bars, coffee shops and restaurants. Make a point of making a night of it out and about in your own city.
Play Your Part
If we want Newry to become a better place to live in, all of us need to play a part, by engaging in our community, supporting businesses and events and helping progress our wonderful city. There is no point in waiting for others to do it.
#NewryDeservesBetter and there's no better time than 2025 to start making it happen.
