Latest news with #MourneGateway
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
£30m towards Mournes gondola could be lost as plans ‘start from scratch'
And it now appears that a council plan to move the so-called gondolas from Newcastle to Rostrevor may have to 'start from scratch' despite claims councillors were told the project would only need to be 'modified'. Tourism NI is a key stakeholder in the £44m Gateway Project, with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) scrambling to hold onto £30m in Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) money after the plan to site the gondola in Newcastle was scrapped. The council revealed in May it is working to relocate the Mourne Mountain Gateway project on the other side of the Mournes in the village of Rostrevor. The move came after landowners the National Trust withdrew co-operation from the Newcastle project. The council is understood to be keen to retain the BRCD money by ensuring the project goes ahead, albeit in another location. But concerns have now been raised that the planned relocation may not be straightforward. A spokesperson for Tourism NI said: 'Tourism NI is not in receipt of an alternative proposal to the Mourne Mountain Gateway Project (MMGP) at this time. 'Newry Mourne and Down District Council is aware that any alternative proposal to the Mourne Mountain Gateway project will be considered a new project and will require a new outline business case (OBC) to be submitted as part of the City and Growth Deals process.' Tourism NI's role is that of Investment Decision Maker (IDM) on behalf of the Department for the Economy (DfE) for tourism proposals within the City and Growth Deals Programme. The council is relying on keeping £30m from the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) which was awarded to the Mourne Gateway project. However, landowners the National Trust pulled out of the project in May over environmental concerns — leaving the local authority organising emergency meetings to present a new proposal to BRCD to retain the cash. NMDDC was asked whether it had outlined a new business case to its stakeholders for the Rostrevor plan at Kilbroney park. A spokesperson said: 'Newry, Mourne and Down District Council issued a statement on 28 May to the media in relation to this matter, we continue to work through the details with our partners and are not in position to provide any further comment at this time.' However, it has now been alleged that the local authority had advised NMDDC councillors that the Kilbroney proposal could be partly transferred from the Mourne Gateway project. Mournes Alliance councillor Jill Truesdale said: 'At every point in the progression of this project Alliance has been calling for more openness and transparency. 'That we're seeing such issues persist even at this point is not reassuring.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Call for investigation into money spent on failed Mourne Gateway Project
There has been a call for an investigation into the money spent by the council on the failed Mourne Mountain Gondola project. Last week the controversial Mourne Gateway Project was put to an end after the National Trust announced that it would not allow for its land at Thomas's Quarry to be used for the Gondola and Visitor Station. The Mourne Mountain project was supported by £30m through the Belfast Region City Deal with the rest from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, including any other costs. Read more: National Trust to 'answer questions' over decision to pull out of Mournes Gateway project Read more: Mourne Gateway Project meeting sparks 'breach of conduct' complaint Alliance Newry, Mourne and Down Councillors, Jill Truesdale and Tierna Howie have now called for an independent investigation by the Northern Ireland Audit Office into the money spent so far in progressing the project. Cllr Truesdale said: 'Alliance has consistently expressed concerns about the viability of the Gondola project, particularly regarding financial expenditures and environmental impact. I have spoken at length before about the glaring lack of transparency and seeming disregard for how best to utilise ratepayers' money in the case of this project, especially when a great number of local residents expressed deep concerns and frustrations against it. 'Openness, transparency, and ensuring value for money should be at the heart of decision making at every level of government, and as a party, we are gravely concerned as to how much money has been spent to date on a project that didn't have the basic requirement of a lease in place to secure the site. 'I have written to the audit office to request an independent investigation into how much money has been spent to date.' Cllr Howie added: 'It is essential that any such investigation is carried out by the NIAO to allow for an impartial overview. This project has been very contentious and unwanted by a huge majority of people, both residents and visitors to Newcastle and those who love the natural beauty of the Mournes. 'Alliance has been the only party to raise concerns consistently about the severe risk of progressing and spending money without a lease agreement. We therefore feel it is only right to look across all the details and for the public to know exactly what money has been spent and how this was allowed to continue. 'In the meantime, my Alliance colleagues and I will continue to explore viable and sustainable alternative proposals for the Mourne Mountain Gateway project and work to ensure that the £30million Belfast Region City Deal money remains in Newry, Mourne and Down.' For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Belfast Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Mournes gondola project: Major hurdle as National Trust confirms no lease will be given to build at planned site
Latest | The National Trust has confirmed that no lease will be given to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to build a gondola on Thomas Quarry. The area was earmarked for the proposed site where a gondola was planned to be constructed. The Mourne Gateway project is estimated to cost as much as £50m, with £30m of that coming from the Belfast City Regional Deal. Newry, Mourne and Down District council has committed to contributing £14m plus any additional costs. The proposed plans envisaged a visitor centre and 'gondola experience' in the Thomas Quarry area of the mountain range. This plan, however, will no longer be going forward. In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Trust, which owns the land on Thomas Quarry, said: 'With the known existing recreational and other pressures on the protected areas, as a conservation charity we cannot support a project of this scale that would be inviting substantial visitor numbers into fragile and threatened areas of the Mourne landscape and therefore we will not be considering a lease at Thomas Quarry.' They added that they have informed council and the Department for the Economy of their position. 'We will continue to work with the council and others to consider alternative projects with significantly less risk and environmental impact.' They reiterated that they had 'consistently expressed serious concerns' over the project and that they had never endorsed it. This is, however, the first time the charity has made their stance clear on the project. It is understood that Arup, the project's consultancy team, revealed new designs to elected representatives at a behind-closed-doors meeting on February 24. The council agreed in October last year to appoint a specialist consultant to 'provide professional input into the project during the feasibility, design development, procurement and construction stage'. The cost of this position to ratepayers remains unknown. Around 200 people attended a public meeting about the development last month. It was organised by SOD (Save Our Donard) Off, which is also behind the upcoming parade in Newcastle. The March to save Donard will set off from Down Road in the town at midday on Saturday, May 10. Protesters will make their way down Main Street before dispersing at the entrance to Donard Park — the proposed gondola starting point — by 1pm.
Belfast Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Mournes gondola opponents planning Newcastle march
Campaigner calls on locals to send message to council by taking to the streets Protesters opposed to the building of a gondola in the Mournes are planning a parade through Newcastle's Main Street next month. The Mourne Gateway project could cost as much as £50m, with £30m of that coming from the Belfast City Regional Deal.
