Phoenix to halt Castlewellan work in mid-July for festivals

Phoenix to halt Castlewellan work in mid-July for festivals

19 June 2019

PHOENIX Gas has agreed to not to carry work in Castlewellan town centre during July when the town hosts three major events.

The commitment came at a public information event in the town last week when representatives from the company outlined their plans to councillors, members of the town’s business community, residents and roads officials.

Phoenix has agreed that work will not take place in the town’s Main Street area between July 7 and 28, during which time the town will be hosting the annual agricultural show, Soma Festival and Ulster Fleadh, which are expected to attract thousands of visitors.

Around 40 people attended last week’s information event when company officials gave a commitment to minimise disruption, with a number of people registering an interest in connecting to the mains gas network.

Slieve Croob councillor Roisin Howell said she was pleased with the assurance given by Phoenix.

Over the past few weeks she has been meeting with Phoenix and roads officials and the Castlewellan Traders’ Association to discuss concerns around the impact work in the town centre would have on the high profile festival events.

She said: “We have secured an assurance from Phoenix Gas that no works will take place during the summer festivals and while we welcome this, we are still concerned about traffic management and trading conditions for businesses through the summer season.  

“There is a great deal of concern with regards to potential disruption caused to business over the course of the road works and we will continue to liaise with the traders and the agencies involved to minimise disruption.”

A Phoenix spokeswoman said the event provided the company with an opportunity to outline its construction plans and the measures it will take to stay out of Castlewellan town during the various events in July.

She continued: “As part of our investment to bring the benefits of natural gas to 13 towns across East Down, Phoenix Natural Gas held a public information event in Castlewellan last week to provide residents and traders with an overview of the works which are scheduled to commence on June 24.

“More than 40 people across the area attended the event to find out about the upcoming works schedule and to register their interest in connecting to natural gas.”

The spokeswoman said Phoenix was able to confirm measures it aims to put in place to mitigate against what it described as “unnecessary disruption” during key upcoming festivities.

She added: “We will not have any construction work taking place across main arterial routes from the July 7 through to July 28, ensuring we have no impact on access for Castlewellan Show, Soma Festival and Ulster Fleadh.”

A full schedule of works has been uploaded to the Phoenix Natural Gas website and can be found at: https://www.phoenixnaturalgas.com/projects/breaking-new-ground-en-route-to-east-down  

Later today, members of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee will be asked to sanction the temporary closure of the Bann Road household recycling centre in Castlewellan on Saturday, August 24.

Officers want to close the busy facility between 9.45am and 11.45am to facilitate those taking part in the annual Mourne Triathlon.