By Ryan Sands
A PETITION calling on the council to halt elements of the planned Mourne Mountains Gateway Project is to be presented at Stormont by a local MLA.
Andrew McMurray (Alliance) will hand the Mourne Gateway Info Group petition over to Economy Minister Conor Murphy on Monday (2 December), with the aim that the latter will “exert some influence to engage in a rethink of the problematic elements” – these are identified as the gondola and the Thomas Quarry visitors centre – of the £44m scheme.
At the beginning of this week the online petition had attracted just over 5,200 signatures.
“The public opinion that has been expressed to me over the years in opposition to this project has been unabated and constant,” said the local representative.
“The public are both concerned and frustrated at this project, which has led to this petition.
“I, too, share the points that the organisers of this have raised.”
Mr McMurray highlighted that the reasons for halting the gondola project, which would link Donard Park to Thomas Quarry, include: lack of public consultation; disregard for alternatives; financial risk; environmental threats; adverse aesthetic impact; negative economic impact; the National Trust having not granted consent; and weather and seasonal factors.
“In presenting this petition to the Minister of the Economy, I hope to draw his attention to the amount of feeling towards this project and that he would exert some influence to engage in a rethink of the problematic elements,” he concluded.
“Going forward, it would be hoped that the more sustainable and publicly palatable options for enhancing the Mourne Mountains, while also stimulating economic growth, could be further explored, which would both benefit visitors to, and residents of, Newcastle and the wider South Down constituency.”
Earlier this month, an information day on the project was hosted in Newcastle by Arup, the engineering company leading the integrated consultancy team appointed to progress it.
An indicative timeline displayed on the day anticipated the securing of planning approval in the fourth quarter of 2026, the commencement of building works in the first quarter of 2027, and completion of the project’s construction in the second quarter of 2029.
The council-led scheme has received £30m in funding from the Belfast Region City Deal, whilst the local authority is set to contribute £14m.
