Alliance Party Rowallane Councillor Patrick Brown has welcomed the announcement that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has made an application for funding for the Albert Basin Park. The announcement comes after weeks of criticism and pressure regarding the Council’s commitment to a 15 acre city centre park at the Albert Basin site in Newry.
Speaking on the funding development Cllr Brown said:
“Pleased to share that at tonight’s SPR committee it was confirmed, as was reported in this week’s Newry Reporter, that council have already submitted a bid for £16m to the Dept of Finance for the Albert Basin Park Project.
Whilst this is a very positive step in the right direction, it’s important to note that this is a funding bid and not a funding commitment in the rates (which previously proposals by myself and Gavin Malone would have done). Council still needs to put its own money where it’d mouth is regarding the park. There is also zero chance this would have happened if it weren’t for the huge amount of public pressure applied by community organisers and campaigners across the district in recent weeks.”
“But this is just a first step and major questions still need to be answered about the cost and design of the park, the timeframe for delivery and, of course, why council is still proposing to spend over £20m on unwanted and unnecessary new offices. That is exactly why I will be attending the trade union and community led public rally on the 23rd October – let’s keep the pressure up!”
ENDS
