Council to pay €500,000 for Carlingford bridge

Council to pay €500,000 for Carlingford bridge

16 October 2013

DOWN Council has agreed in principle to provide £417,000 to support the £32m Narrow Water Bridge project.

But no cash will be handed over until a number of key conditions attached to the funding offer for the Carlingford Lough project are met, local politicians were told on Monday night.

They include that a review of the bridge’s business case confirms Down Council’s contribution to the construction costs represents value for money in terms of the economic and tourism boost it provides for the area.

SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance councillors backed the financial contribution but DUP and Ulster Unionist members voting against making any payment until the business case is reviewed.

Unionist councillors accused the local authority of “putting the cart before the horse” and going against the rule it normally applies when it receives funding requests from organisations who are asked for their business plans before a penny is paid out.

However, councillors agreed by 15 votes to three to make money available in principle to the £32m scheme which is being supported by Louth and Newry and Mourne Councils.

A briefing paper prepared for politicians ahead of Monday night’s meeting suggested the funding could be provided via a number of sources, including dipping into Down Council’s cash reserves, additional borrowing or reprioritising its proposed capital works programme.

Council chief executive, Mr. John Dumigan, said legal advice indicated that the local authority could provide funding in principle for the bridge project which at this stage is outside its area, but won’t be when Down Council merges with its neighbour in Newry and Mourne in 2015.

He said one of the conditions attached to the council’s offer include that sole responsibility for any funding shortfall in the bridge project rests with Louth County Council.

Councillor Eamonn O’Neill (SDLP) said the bridge over Carlingford Lough offers the district “tremendous potential” and issued a reminder that the Stormont Executive is backing its construction.

“There are a number of funders involved. Down Council is the last piece in the funding package and time is running out. We need to be able to say yes to funding in principle, subject to a number of conditions being met,” he continued.

“The bridge project has been on the cards for some time and offers our district major tourism potential. The bridge will allow a lot of people to come to our region and make a major contribution to our tourist industry.”

Councillor Stephen Burns (Sinn Fein) described the Narrow Water bridge as a “tremendous project” and a “tremendous opportunity” for Down Council to attract more visitors to the area.

Ulster Unionist councillor, Walter Lyons, said he would prefer to see the business case before agreeing to making any money available, accusing the local authority of “putting the cart before the horse.”

The DUP’s William Dick said Down Council has always insisted that groups seeking financial support for projects make available a copy of their respective business cases before any decision is made on whether to provide financial support or not.

Alliance councillor, Patrick Clarke, described the proposed Narrow Water bridge as a “strategic project” which will provide long term benefits for Down District. He said the scheme had been on the drawing board for too long and it was now time to deliver it.