THE installation of permanent height restriction barriers at Newcastle’s Castle Park will be considered during future discussions on the council’s planned motorhomes strategy.
At last Wednesday’s Sustainability and Environment Committee meeting, it was agreed that temporary barriers be placed at the site for the duration of next month’s Irish Open – at a cost of £2,000 – after a report recommending this course of action was tabled.
It was also agreed to reinstate height restriction barriers at the council car park located in The Square in Warrenpoint.
A committee report detailed that Castle Park’s car park – which has five designated motorhome spaces – does not currently have barriers, and that council recently completed a survey of it.
This was carried out on the basis of ‘concerns over the number of motorhomes parked in Castle Park overnight in contravention of council bye-laws, which stipulate that there must be no parking between the hours of midnight and 6am’.
‘On 4 August 2024, there were 27 motorhomes parked in Castle Park car park, which generates significant risk in terms of fire safety and traffic control,’ the document continued.
‘In order to improve traffic control and reduce safety risks, it is proposed to install temporary height restricting barriers at Castle Park car park for the duration of the Amgen Irish Open from 9 to 15 September 2024.
‘Furthermore, it is proposed to erect additional signage at the entrance of the car park to remind members of the public of the bye-laws for control of car parking.
‘Hire costs for supply and installation of height restricting barriers will be approximately £2k.’
On Warrenpoint Square, the report highlighted that an environmental improvement scheme was completed there in March 2017 and that pre-existing height restricting barriers were not subsequently reinstated.
‘In order to effectively manage car parking capacity and traffic control, it is proposed to reinstate height restricting barriers to the two entrances to this car park,’ it read.
‘Concept designs and associated costs have been requested for this work.’
Mickey Ruane (Sinn Féin, Crotlieve) proposed endorsing these recommendations.
“There have been a couple of issues lately in Warrenpoint, over the last six/seven months, that necessitate the need for barriers being put up, so it would be welcomed, I’m sure,” he stated.
“I have no problem with the other one for Castle Park.
“We were looking at a motorhomes strategy – where are we with that?”
Conor Sage, Sustainability assistant director, responded that it was his understanding that “the Active and Healthy Communities (AHC) Directorate has a motorhomes strategy completed in draft”, and that he would “try to find out where that is currently at”.
Helena Young (Alliance, Slieve Croob) said that her party colleague Jill Truesdale (Mournes) has “had a lot of constituents contacting her” in relation to “dangerous and unsanitary” behaviour at Castle Park.
“They are pouring their waste into the public toilets,” she added.
“Now there are caravans and tents joining the campervans – there are fires being lit, barbecues being lit.
“There are signs outlining the various bye-laws, but they are not being adhered to.”
Cllr Young then asked if there was “any prospect that that barrier could be a permanent barrier, rather than just for the golf”.
“The campervans aren’t just going to not be there for the week that the golf is on,” she stated.
“They may not be there because the barrier is there, but as soon as it’s down they’ll be back.”
Mr Sage replied that it was his view that “that really needs to be considered in conjunction with the motorhomes strategy that Cllr Ruane referred to earlier on”, given “the implications of making those barriers permanent and the offsetting of the motorhomes”.
“Where do we displace them to?” he continued.
“So, I think the wider context really needs to be considered before that decision can be brought to the committee.
“We would also need to consider and review how effective the placement of the barrier has been during the week of the Open as well, and the issues that come out of that as well would be reviewed after the event.”
Doire Finn (SDLP, Newry) stated that she thought this would be “the pragmatic approach” to take, and highlighted that the issues at Castle Park have been raised with her Mournes colleague Laura Devlin.
“We chatted about it in AHC, and I do think it is important that we look at that long-term,” she added.
“You can’t just shift the problem somewhere, because it will keep happening.”
Cllr Ruane’s proposal was seconded by Philip Campbell (Sinn Féin, Downpatrick), and this will be tabled for rubberstamping at Monday’s monthly council meeting.
