FEARS that Newcastle’s
Rock Pool could end up
“washing away into the
Irish Sea” have been
voiced by a local
councillor.
Mournes SDLP representative
Laura Devlin was speaking after “a
further weekend of storms”
battered the listed town landmark,
and has now called for a fresh
investigation into its structure to be
carried out. “Over the weekend, I was alerted
to some damage to the back corner
wall of the Rock Pool,” she said.
“I immediately contacted council
officers, and asked for a structural
check of the pool.
“As we know, the pool has been
out of use for more than four years
now, due to health and safety issues,
but, unless action is taken and
swiftly, I fear that this pool will
literally crumble into the sea, and
the images from last weekend fill
me with dread in that regard.”
Highlighting the listed status of
the pool structure, Cllr Devlin stated that “there is an onus on council to
maintain it”.
“Officers are investigating the possibility of
renovating the pool and converting it to a tidal
pool, but these investigations are dragging on,”
she added.
“We are into a new year, and there is still no
definitive pathway for the pool to be reopened.
“I have asked for an update and for the project
to be again tabled at our next meeting of
the Mournes district electoral area.
“Local people really need to see progress on
the pool.“We need to know, is a tidal pool a possibility
here, and, if so, what the costs are.
“At that point, the project would be put before
councillors for decision.
“I fear that leaving matters much longer will
result in our treasured pool washing away into
the Irish Sea
