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Newry BID has been reflecting on what a very busy month with the big story being the approval of Planning permission for the £18.6m Newry City Park at Albert Basin, marking what BID has described as a major milestone for the city. The approval is part of a wider programme of public and private investment progressing in Newry.
Construction is under way on the new Theatre and Conference Centre, while a £3 million Grade A Office Development Grant Scheme has been made available to encourage investment in new office accommodation. Funding has also been awarded to two proposals through the Hotel Accommodation Development Scheme, aimed at increasing the quality and supply of visitor accommodation in the city. The recently opened Newry to Carlingford Greenway is also creating new opportunities for tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses.
Newry BID said it welcomed the progress being made, adding that the priority must now be to maintain momentum and ensure the investment delivers increased footfall, new business opportunities and lasting economic benefits for the city centre.
Elsewhere in the city, the barriers and hoarding around the two long awaited parklets at Dolce Vita and Café Crème have been removed this week. Contractors are now completing the final stages, including the installation of furniture. The parklets will create additional outdoor space where people can sit, meet and enjoy food and refreshments from the participating businesses.
Newry BID also highlighted the success of recent events in the city. Iúr Cinn Fleadh, Newry Water Festival and Newry Mela brought music, culture, family activities and entertainment into Newry over the past few weeks, attracting strong crowds and creating what Newry BID described as a great atmosphere in the city. Newry BID said it was pleased to support the programme of activity and congratulated the organisers, volunteers, businesses and everyone involved in making the events a success.
On support for members, Newry BID has been working closely with businesses applying to the Commercial Property Revive and Reimagine Grant scheme, which is designed to bring vacant and underused commercial properties back into productive use. The deadline closed this week, and Newry BID said it was pleased to help a number of members complete their applications. If successful, the projects could make a contribution to improving the appearance of the city centre, reducing vacancy and supporting new and growing businesses. Newry BID is also finalising the number of businesses around Sugar Island that will receive support with flood barriers, which it said would be important in helping businesses in the area become more resilient to future flooding.
Newry BID addressed the impact of the Black Saturday parade, which it said caused significant issues for many of its members. Since the event, Newry BID has been liaising with the PSNI and the organisers and putting forward alternative proposals for consideration. It understands the parade is unlikely to return to Newry for at least another 14 years. Newry BID said its focus was not on the purpose or ethos of any individual parade but on how parades, major events and associated road closures of any type are planned and managed to reduce the economic impact on local businesses, and it will continue to engage with the relevant organisations on behalf of its members.
Work is also progressing with the hospitality sector on a shared door policy for the city, aimed at creating a more consistent approach among participating venues and supporting door staff in managing issues facing businesses within the night-time economy. Further details will be shared with members as the work progresses.
Newry BID said it fully understands the frustrations being expressed by those involved in the newly formed Newry People's Forum who are organising a public meeting in the Canal Court Hotel on 8 October, noting that many of the issues being raised are currently the subject of ongoing work by a range of stakeholders, including Newry BID. It said it remains open to a constructive forum involving all key stakeholders to work collectively for the betterment of Newry.
Looking ahead, planning is under way for the return of Spooks in the City, with Halloween falling over a weekend this year presenting an opportunity to attract families and additional footfall into Newry. Work is also beginning on Newry BID's Christmas campaign and on ideas to improve the cleanliness and appearance of the city centre. The date of the next Newry BID AGM will be confirmed within the next couple of weeks, with details issued directly to members.
