Newcastle tourism plan nearly complete

Newcastle tourism plan nearly complete

28 June 2017

A MAJOR report on shaping future tourist provision in Newcastle will be published this September.

Highly ambitious concept proposals designed to attract international visitors to the resort were unveiled earlier this year and include a gondola ride into the heart of the Mournes, a visitor centre at the site of the old quarry at Thomas’ Mountain and a so-called Alpine coaster enabling people to hurtle down the side of the mountain on a single track in a buggy.

Other ideas include an indoor activity centre in Donard Park, an elevated tree top walk in Tollymore Forest Park, a new visitor centre and bird hide at the Murlough Nature Reserve and a new bridge constructed under the main Kilkeel Road at the Bloody Bridge on the outskirts of the town.

Consultants appointed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council to look at developing the resort’s visitor infrastructure have also come up 

with proposals for the Islands Park, with upgrades planned for existing car parks, alongside new public toilet provision. There are also proposals to reduce the the tree line in Donard Forest on the slopes of the Mournes.

A green travel network which would allow visitors to hire bicycles and electric bikes to make their way round various attractions is also suggested.

The concept proposals form the core of the Mourne Mountains Gateway Study and have been 

discussed with a number of key organisations including the National Trust, Forest Service and Environment Agency. Since the concept proposals were unveiled, members of the public have had an opportunity to view them to provide their feedback.

Consultants say the overarching vision is to provide “world-class, international tourist attractions” which develop sustainable enhancement of access from Newcastle to the Mournes and its foothills and forests, while also broadening recreational provision.

The views articulated during the recent public consultation are currently being evaluated with local politicians due to meet with the consultants in September to plot the way forward. 

A spokesman for Newry, Mourne and Down Council confirmed yesterday that a final working session with key stakeholder agencies is taking place at the start of August with a view to bringing a completed report to the local authority for review the following month.

It is at this point politicians will have an opportunity to view the final proposals and decide how they should proceed to attract more visitors to Newcastle through the provision of exciting new tourism projects.

Politicians will decide how the local authority proceeds to the detailed design stage which will include the preparation of business cases, feasibility studies and costings to determine which of the proposals can be delivered on what is being described as a “phased approach to development.”

A Newry, Mourne and Down Council spokesman added: “The consultants’ final working session with key stakeholder agencies is taking place on August 1 with a view to bringing a completed report to the Council for review in September.”