Minister urged to force rethink over gondola

Minister urged to force rethink over gondola

4 December 2024

STORMONT Economy Minister Conor Murphy has been asked to use his influence to force a rethink over the controversial cable car ride which is at the heart of the controversial £44m Mournes Gateway Project.

Over 5,000 people have signed a petition opposing the scheme which is being financed by the Belfast Region City Deal and Newry, Mourne and Down Council and projected to open in 2029.

On Monday, Mr Murphy was presented with the petition by South Down MLA Andy McMurray.

The flagship tourism project has been described as “redefining the visitor experience of the Mournes”, but has been met with vehement opposition.

It was confirmed recently that a specialist consultant is to be appointed to oversee the controversial gondola ride into the heart of the Mournes as part of the biggest ever tourism project ever proposed for the island of Ireland, while two weeks ago, the National Trust reaffirmed that it does not endorse the multi-million pound project.

The conservation charity – which owns Slieve Donard – says it remains “deeply concerned” about the environmental impact of the project and has made it clear the organisation is not involved in the development or design of the project, no does it endorse it. 

In a letter to campaigners, Trust chief executive Heather McLachlan said the charity will not provide a lease for Thomas’s quarry where a new visitor centre is planned, unless a full environmental impact assessment of the charity’s concern about the potential impact of the project on landscape, wildlife and water quality of the area have been addressed.

At Stormont on Monday, Mr McMurray handed over the petition organised by the Mourne Gateway Group calling for an immediate halt to progress on the visitor centre at the quarry and gondola elements of the Mourne Gateway Project.

He said the strength of public opinion has been “constant and unabating”.

Mr McMurray said people in South Down were “concerned, frustrated and frankly fed up” when it comes to the lack of regard shown for their concerns by other political parties who remain intransigent and still champion this deeply unpopular part of the plans.

“There is no shortage of reasons why we oppose the gondola and have, unfortunately, ended up in this situation today,” he continued.

He said concerns centred around the lack of public consultation on the project, the disregard of other, more sustainable, alternative uses for the funding, the financial risk involved, lack of economic viability, the threat to the local environment and disruption of the area’s “vast and unique natural beauty”.

Mr McMurray said he hoped that presenting the petition would draw Mr Murphy’s attention to the feelings of local people towards this project and urge him to exert some influence to prompt a rethink of its problematic elements.

Mournes councillor, Jill Truesdale, said “openness, transparency and ensuring value for money for our ratepayers” should be at the heart of decision making at every level of government. 

She continued: “From what we’ve observed so far in the development of the gondola aspect of the Gateway Project, these principles haven’t been met and I’m proud to stand alongside local campaigners making their voices heard on it.

Andy Carden, of the Mourne Gateway Info Group, said he was “incredibly pleased” that the petition had garnered more than 5,200 signatories.

He added: “These signatures represent the overwhelming public opposition to this aspect of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s plans for the project. We urge them to abandon the gondola plan and turn to sustainable alternatives.”

The Gateway Project is being billed as a “world class tourism attraction” for Newcastle with those behind the scheme insisting it has the potential to redefine the visitor experience of the Mournes, whilst supporting the sustainable growth of tourism and protecting and enhancing the natural heritage and habitat of the region. 

Council officials insist the proposed tourism scheme is designed to position the local area as one of the province’s premier tourism districts, create 33 new jobs and encourage additional investment in the resort and wider area, particularly in new visitor accommodation. 

Scheme supporters say it is also designed to support sustainable tourism and improvements to infrastructure and accessibility.

When the scheme was unveiled it was suggested that if the year-round international tourism project gets the green light, it could attract 365,000 visitors annually after five years in business, generating just over £5m for the district by this point and support businesses across the wider area.