By Lisa Ramsden
AN alternative to plans for a gondola ride in the Mournes has been presented to the scheme’s main funder.
Shortly before going to print yesterday, it was confirmed that work will begin to further develop this “alternative concept proposal”.
The news emerged in response to concerns raised by the Council Watch residents’ group, which yesterday launched a petition demanding an “immediate leadership change and governance reform” at the local council.
There have been fears the district will lose out on £30 million of funding ever since the plug was pulled on the initial plan for a gondola ride and visitor centre in Newcastle.
The proposal for the large-scale tourist attraction received a major blow in April 2025, when the National Trust, which owns the land on which the attraction’s visitor centre would have been developed, at a quarry on the lower slopes of Slieve Donard, said it was “pausing engagement” with the council until it received “robust and comprehensive environmental assessments on the proposal”.
The controversial project had been expected to cost £44m – with £30m coming from the Belfast Region City Deal and the remainder from the district council.
The proposal received a mixed response, with positivity from many in the local business community and opposition from others, including residents and environmentalists.
In December 2024 a petition of nearly 6,000 objections was presented at the Assembly. Following that the council promised a series of engagement events.
The National Trust blocked the Newcastle project’s progression in May 2025.
Not long after that the council confirmed it was exploring the potential of developing the attraction in Rostrevor, setting off from the village’s Kilbroney Park; however, this was not advanced.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council confirmed that “an alternative concept proposal was presented by the council and approved by the BRCD (Belfast Region City Deal) Executive Board at a meeting last week.”
She added that “subject to approval through the council’s governance processes, work will begin to further develop the proposal and prepare an outline business case” and that “reallocation of the funding will be subject to business case approval by the BRCD Executive Board in the first instance, and ultimately Executive approval.”