Gondola ride off the table

Gondola ride off the table

6 August 2025

AFTER two failed attempts to deliver flagship tourism projects in the area, Newry, Mourne and Down Council says it remains committed to securing a £30m funding pot on offer from central government.

The cash is being made available under the Belfast Region City Deal with ratepayers asked to cough up £14m for the so-called Mournes Gateway Project.

Council officials are now looking to come up with a third project to ensure the £30m isn’t lost to the area and say the local authority is currently “exploring all options”.

The commitment to come up with a viable project comes as projects for controversial cable car rides in the Mournes and Kilbroney Forest Park have been unceremoniously shot down.

In May, the National Trust refused to provide a lease for its land which was required to run a cable car from Newcastle’s Donard Park to a proposed visitor centre at a disused quarry in the Mournes, despite the local authority investing over £1.3m on the project.

And last week, the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs effectively killed off the Kilbroney proposal.

The minister at the helm of the department — Andrew Muir — said he had “serious concerns” about the potential impact the project would have on environmentally sensitive areas, existing woodlands, ancient trees, wildlife habitats, biodiversity and the aesthetic value of the social landscape.

And to compound the local authority’s misery, one local councillor fears the organisation has been left the “laughing stock” of Northern Ireland after DAERA refused to back the Kilbroney proposal.

Cllr Callum Bowsie’s comment came after a meeting of the local authority’s Audit Committee when it was revealed officers were not aware of how Mr Muir based his decision as the specific route of the proposed gondola ride in the forest park does no exist.

Cllr Bowsie fears the organisation is “now becoming a laughing stock across the councils” and asked if the local authority knew the Kilbroney project was dependent on DAERA and if so why was it not listed as a risk factor? 

He said there was no mention the forest park proposal would need approval from the DAERA Minister.

Downpatrick councillor Gareth Sharvin asked if Mr Muir had all the information that he required to actually make an assessment?

“I don't even know what was to be at Kilbroney so I don't know how he did. I am trying to understand what information we shared with the Department for such a judgement to be made. It is now important that we identify a new project so that we can retain £30m of investment that could be potentially lost,” he added.

Council officials insist that after the National Trust announcement on the Mournes proposal the local authority agreed to explore the opportunity of moving the project to Kilbroney. 

They insist no decision was made to move it to Rostrevor “but only to explore it and part of that operation was engagement with DAERA in respect of the land access” with this work happening over the past six or seven weeks before it was confirmed the land it required was not available.

Council officials say they are not aware of what information Minister Muir was in possession of in reaching his decision, confirming there was high level engagement with the Forest Service (DAERA) advising them of the intention to explore the opportunity within Kilbroney, with no discussion on defined routes or entry or exit points as such detail does not exist.

A council spokesman confirmed yesterday that it is working under a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the Forest Service for the development of tourism facilities at Kilbroney, Slieve Gullion and Castlewellan Forest Parks, investing more than £10m over the past 10 years, with plans for further investment in a treetop walk attraction in Castlewellan Forest Park.

“With the full agreement of Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) partners and the support of the Warrenpoint, Burren and Rostrevor Chamber of Commerce, the Council had recently been exploring a proposal to deliver the Mourne Mountains Gateway Project in Kilbroney Forest Park, with environmental sensitivity and sustainability being core principles of the project,” he continued.

The spokesman said the council remains committed to securing the £30m investment for the district and is actively exploring options with its BRCD, Tourism NI and Department for the Economy partners.

He said retaining the funding requires the agreement of all partners and any proposal must meet the BRCD objectives to enhance the attractiveness of Northern Ireland as a world-class visitor destination. 

“This requires investment in projects of sufficient scale and nature, which are capable of attracting visitors from outside NI to the region and encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more,” the spokesman continued.

“The investment must deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits around the region, so that communities in all parts of Northern Ireland benefit, all year round.”

The spokesman said an update on project costs to date will be provided in the near future and that to secure the retention of the £30m, the council is continuing to work through the detail with its partners and further updates will be provided in the coming weeks.