Public urged to have their say on future of Newcastle

Public urged to have their say on future of Newcastle

1 February 2017

LOCAL people are being asked to help shape future tourist provision in Newcastle which could include an “iconic attraction” on a scale never before seen in the district.

Consultants have been appointed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council to look at developing the resort’s visitor infrastructure and are keen to come up with concept proposals by the end of March to provide a road map for the way forward.

The consultants are overseeing the Mourne Mountains Gateway Study on behalf of the local authority in partnership with Tourism NI which has agreed to make funding available to help finance future projects.

While no definitive proposals, timescales or budgets are in place, council officials have ambitiously suggested Newcastle could potentially be looking at the next Titanic Centre or Giant’s Causeway in terms of visitor attractions, with work on projects possibly starting within five years.

The purpose of the new study is to gather views on existing recreational uses, issues and potential opportunities within a designated primary study area which includes Thomas’ Quarry in the Mournes, Donard Park and Donard Forest.

Linking these areas to Tollymore Forest Park, Murlough Nature Reserve and the Bloody Bridge is also being explored, along with the potential future development of these key sites and the Castle and Island parks in the heart of Newcastle.

The community is being asked to provide information on how it uses the various locations for recreation, any issues they have identified within them and flag up potential opportunities to broaden their recreational and visitor provision.

Consultants say they have no firm schemes in mind at this time and are keen for the community to help them come up with “imaginative proposals” to produce a vision for the future to help increase the number of overnight and international visitors to the resort.

During a media briefing last week, consultants made it clear they want the public to help them shape proposals going forward and do not want to come along and say ‘this is the kind of building they want to place here or there.’

Consultant David Bullough said those charged with coming up with proposals want to take the public with them and revealed previous strategies and master plans published over recent years to improve Newcastle’s tourist offering have been studied, including a feasibility study for a proposed gondola ride from Donard Park into the Mournes. He also confirmed discussions have been held with a number of organisations including the National Trust, Forest Service and Environment Agency.

“We are aware of recommendations made in previous studies and have been asked to take a fresh approach. We intend to take a step back, look at the study area and the brief we have been given to produce something that works,” he continued. “This process is an evolving story.”

Mr Bullough said Newcastle already has a number of “fantastic assets” and the way forward may not necessarily be about providing one new major building, but building on what is already in place and linking them all together. He said everyone involved recognises the need not to rush ahead as this is “something they must get right.”

Consultant Pete Mullin said enhancing tourist provision hinges on looking at the opportunities to do something which monopolises what the area has to offer.

“One of the things we have taken from the initial briefings we have had is that international visitors who fly into Dublin, jump in their hire care and hit the Titanic Centre on the first day and maybe go to the Giant’s Causeway on the second and then they are finished,” he said.

“Adding to what is already in place here can create an international draw and it may well be that several projects could be developed in Newcastle, not just one. The task we have been given is a challenging one as you will have opposing views.

“For example, there may be those diametrically opposed to a big visitor attraction, whatever that might be and that will be part of the challenge moving forward. Community buy-in is massive and if you don’t bring the community with you, you will have resistance. Whatever happens in Newcastle, it has to be something the community will benefit from as well. This is not about imposing something on them,” he added.

People interested in having their say and who want to complete the online public survey are being encouraged to log on at visitmournemountains.co.uk/mournemountainsgatewaystudy. Copies of the paper survey are also available at Newcastle’s Visitor Information Centre located at Central Promenade.