Write a commentNewry Chamber President Mary Doran, Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade has outlined the Chamber’s position on the proposed development at Carnbane Way.
‘The proposed mixed use development at Carnbane Way includes a major retail superstore, which would have devastating consequences for the future vitality and vibrancy of Newry City Centre. It will undoubtedly drain the lifeblood away from tradition shopping precincts, such as Hill Street and Monaghan Street; which are already suffering as a result of the global recession. It will lead to the widespread closure of our independent retail stores and long established family owned businesses, creating mass unemployment and a deserted and derelict City Centre. There are numerous case studies of cities and towns across the UK and Ireland which have been decimated by similar developments; we cannot allow this to happen to our City’.
‘Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade is disappointed at Newry & Mourne District Council’s decision to support the proposal for the development at Carnbane Way. I would draw attention the ‘Save Our City’ campaign which secured over 200 signatures from local businesses and over 3,000 signatures from local citizens opposed to this development. I would urge our political representatives to take on board these important views of the local electorate’.
President Doran added, ‘The precedent this development will set for further ‘Out of Town’ retail development in Newry will gravely jeopardise major investment currently planned for the City Centre, including the planned expansions of the Buttercrane and The Quays shopping centres, with a combined investment valued at almost £400million; neutering the prospect of job creation that this investment would create’.
‘Newry Chamber has identified over 100 acres of development opportunity sites within the city centre boundary. In accordance, with the defined limit of Newry City Centre, Newry Chamber advocates that land within this limit is the only consideration for the location of retail development. Newry Chamber therefore expects the DoENI Planning Service to apply stringent and rigorous testing of the development potential of these Opportunity Sites in line with prevailing regional retail planning policy’.
Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade will host a Public Meeting to discuss the threat ‘out of town’ retail developments pose for Newry City Centre and are encouraging members of the general public and the Newry business community to attend this extremely important meeting for the future of Newry.
The Public meeting is on Tuesday, 2nd June at 7.30pm in the Treasury Room, The Bank Bar & Bistro, Trevor Hill, Newry.
