Campaigner wants ‘people process’ to join opposition

Campaigner wants ‘people process’ to join opposition

9 April 2025

CONCERN was expressed at last week’s meeting about “very high nitrogen dioxide levels” being pumped out by vehicles in Newcastle which could be exacerbated by construction vehicles if the gondola was to go ahead.

Mr Declan Owens said such an argument will make its way into the discussion at the planning stage — if the project gets that far — with the point raised is helpful as part of the community campaign and response.

But he warned that this alone may not prevent the gondola project from happening.

“What we want is the ‘people process’ to prevent this from happening and it’s events like tonight and future events that we will plan that will help that happen. We want people to join us in a protest walk from the Downs Road to Donard Park on May 10,” said Mr Owens.

He confirmed that in relation to alternative plans for the City Deal funding, campaigners are collaborating with other bodies and said Mountaineering Ireland has already made several suggestions.

“There are are people far more knowledgeable than us working 

on those and that is why the nature of this campaign is a bit different,” said the Save Our Donard representative.

“It has been presented to the council that this was a ‘take it or leave it scenario’ but that is not the case and there are alternative uses for this money. Newry, Mourne and Down Council was not going to consider alternatives, but we put in an objection calling for a stakeholder forum and for alternatives to be considered.”

Mr Owens said a number of forum members were seemingly not content with how they are being consulted.

He agreed with one resident who said parts of the Mournes were in a Special Area of Conservation which is an EU designation and that the gondola project will be subject to the Habitats Directive and appropriate assessment.

“These considerations will be taken into account at the planning stage process. From a legal perspective, there’s always different ways you can can argue these things,” Mr Owens continued.

“Others will argue they need to preserve the Mournes as a tourist destination and this is a way of managing the Mournes where there will be investment coming in.

“If it does get to the stage where there needs to be court proceedings, we will throw the kitchen sink and every single argument there is to prevent this from happening.”

Mr Owens added: “The optimal scenario is that there is pressure put on the council and Mourne Heritage Trust and whoever else is not doing what they need to do to prevent it. We are content to win this in a courtroom if we have to.”