Alternatives suggested for £30m City Deal funding

Alternatives suggested for £30m City Deal funding

14 May 2025

AS Newry, Mourne and Down Council plots its next move to retain the £30m City Deal funding in the area, two organisations have come forward with proposals to spend some of the money.

The Ulster Architectural Society (UAS) has suggested the cash could be used to redevelop the crumbling outdoor Rock Pool at South Promenade in Newcastle, while the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway has suggested it could put some of the cash to good use.

The railway has plans to extend its line the short distance from its Market Street car park base to the St Patrick Centre and further out to Ballydugan and believes a slice of the City Deal cake could pave the way for this to happen.

It has been suggested that up to £5m may be needed to fully restore the seawater pool and that a number of options for its future are under consideration.

It has been reported the pool’s concrete structure has extensively degraded, while the filtration system to filter sea water is almost unusable, with seawater pipes so corroded that rust is coming off them and contaminating water being filtered. 

In addition, the pool is unable to retain water as a result of cracks in the concrete and has been described as no longer fit-for-purpose.

Constructed in 1933, the outdoor pool is the only one of its kind in Northern Ireland and cost £4,000 to build. It has been closed since 2020. 

The UAS described the pool as an “amazing asset”, which could flourish, if given the chance.

It said: “Here is a structure owned by the council that has both tourism and local benefits”.

Meanwhile, railway officials in Downpatrick say with the proposed gondola project now shelved, the council is seeking alternative ideas to support.

“While the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway doesn’t take a position on the gondola itself, we note that this opens the door for other projects to be considered and our long-planned extension to Ballydugan and also into the town centre to the Saint Patrick Centre is ready and waiting,” a spokesperson said.