Work to start at on castle roads

Work to start at on castle roads

29 July 2015

WORK is to start on two new surveys to pave the way for important upgrade work on two key approach roads to Dundrum Castle.

The Department of Environment is proposing to upgrade McMinns Lane and Castle Hill Road and bring them up to a standard which would allow the Roads Service to be responsible for their future maintenance.

The news has been confirmed by Stormont Environment Minister Mark Durkan, and will be part of a major £1m investment programme at the historic castle to enhance its visitor facilities.

In addition to the proposed road upgrades, the government department has drawn up ambitious proposals to provide a new visitor centre, improved car parking and floodlighting.

In a letter to councillor Patrick Clarke, Mr Durkan said work is continuing to improve visitor facilities at the village castle, explaining central to the investment programme is “achieving better public access to the site.”

He said officials have developed what he described as a “draft concept” for the upgrade of the access road, confirming this would include bringing the upper portions of McMinns Lane and Castle Hill Road to a standard to allow them to be adopted by roads officials.

Mr Durkan’s letter continues:  “In order to ensure this option is viable, officials from my department will procure traffic and environmental surveys. Once they have been completed, officials will hold a public consultation to inform local residents of the draft concept and invite feedback.”

Welcoming progress, councillor Clarke said work is also continuing to establish ownership of the Castle Hill Road as part of the investment proposal for the castle.

“The proposed upgrade of the castle and the main approach roads will provide Dundrum with a significant and major tourism boost, as well as creating more jobs and helping the local economy,” he said.

“I welcome plans to improve access to the castle and the proposed visitor facility. Dundrum Castle is perhaps one of the oldest historic castles anywhere in Northern Ireland ranking in importance alongside castles at Carrickfergus and Dunluce with panoramic views from the grounds to the Mourne Mountains and sweeping across Dundrum Bay.”

Councillor Clarke said the Dundrum investment will help make one of the district’s top tourist attractions even better, with work already completed on an archaeological evaluation and geotechnical testing in the car park which will be used to inform the associated engineering aspects of the new scheme.

He added: “I’m pleased with the progress being made to make Dundrum Castle a built heritage tourism attraction. Funds are already in place for the visitor centre, new floodlighting and I hope the proposed upgrade and adoption of the Castle Hill Road in particular can be concluded as soon as possible.”