By Donal McMahon
Newry Ship Canal could be set for a major tourism investment plan.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) unanimously agreed a motion on Monday (April 7) to pursue funding and development of the city’s waterway.
The local authority move comes as elected reps look to increase pressure on Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Minister Liz Kimmins (Sinn Fein) for a lifting bridge at the canal.
Bringing forward the motion, Newry SDLP rep, Killian Feehan said: “This council reaffirms its commitment to the regeneration of Newry Canal to realise its full potential as a key recreation, tourism, biodiversity, and economic development asset.
“Council will write to local authorities and statutory bodies, in pursuit of best practice learnings, and to request information sharing on waterways strategies and management plans.”
The local authorities include, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Leitrim County Council and Cavan County Council (Shannon-Erne Waterway), Derry City & Strabane District Council (Foyle Maritime Festival), Birmingham City Council (Birmingham Canal Navigations) and Waterways Ireland.
The motion has also requested the council to identify funding opportunities with the Irish governments Shared Island Unit as well as the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
An amendment was made by Newry Sinn Fein cllr, Aidan Mathers, “to form a task group within NMDDC and in conjunction with ABC (Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council) to future plan for the canal with a vision to make to a tourist attraction for both areas to boost tourism and bring much needed investment along the length of the historic canal”.
Newry Canal is the oldest summit canal in Britain and Ireland, opening in 1742. The canal has two main sections, the inland stretch from Portadown to Newry and the Ship Canal from Newry to Victoria Locks, halfway along Carlingford Lough. It closed to navigation in 1947.
A further amendment by Newry cllr, Doire Finn (SDLP) was also attached to the motion, which will see an independent review of all economic assessments related to Newry Canal being brought before council in the next six months. The motion received cross party support in chambers.
Slieve Croob Alliance rep, Helena Young voiced her call for “the canal to be the jewel in the crown of Newry” and Mournes DUP cllr, Glyn Hanna suggesting to “connect with the rest of the British Isles…with substantial money available in the mainland to develop canals”.
Newry UUP rep, David Taylor also urged the council to “encourage those with the necessary investment to bring it to the district…with the council to put proposals on the table”.
DfI’s controversial plans for the Newry Canal are included in the estimated £130m Southern Relief Road, with blueprints for a fixed bridge across the city’s waterway.
Campaigners against closed bridge plans for the canal have called for a public inquiry following the launch of a consultation by the department in January.
Local groups as well as NMDDC are urging the new DfI minister, Newry and Armagh MLA Liz Kimmins, to change the design to allow tall ships to pass under the bridge into Albert Basin where the planned Newry City Park is to be built.
Cllr Feehan concluded: “This is something, that if we don’t protect it and enhance it, it is just going to disappear and with it so much of our important heritage and that would dishonour so many generations of people who have come before us in Newry.
“I do agree that the lifting bridge conversation is important here too and that engagement is ongoing and needs to continue because it would undermine our efforts to fully utilise the potential of the canal. I look forward to working with everyone to turn this vision into a reality.”
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 