Plan ‘total liability’

Plan ‘total liability’

13 November 2024

OPPONENTS of the Mourne Gateway Project have doubled down on their opposition to the controversial gondola ride and labelled it a “total financial liability”.

And they have warned that ratepayers will be left to pick up the tab if the cost of the cable car ride into the heart of the mountains continues to escalate.

Concerned residents and members of the Mourne Gateway Info Group (MGIG) attended an information day last week to learn more about what is being billed as a “world class tourism attraction” which could open in 2029.

A similar event was held in March last year with those opposed to the multi-million pound schemebeing financed by the Belfast City Region Deal and Newry, Mourne and Down Council describing itas a “glorified white elephant” and a “total waste of money”.

Campaigners and concerned residents have called on those spearheading the project to pause and step back and look at alternative projects.

Residents say the majority of people in Newcastle are against plans for Ireland’s first cable car ride from Donard Park to a new visitor centre to be built at a former quarry on Thomas’s Mountain and were quick last week to point to the mist shrouded Mournes during last Thursday’s information event, issuing a reminder that the scene is a familiar one all year round, even in summer.

And residents voiced concern about the impact a cable car ride and its associated infrastructure would have, not only on the mountain but also on the resort’s roads and car parks.

The Gateway project is one of the biggest ever tourism projects proposed for Northern Ireland.

The project is designed to position the area as one of the province’s premier tourism districts, creating 33 new jobs and encourage additional investment in the resort and wider area, particularly in new visitor accommodation. 

It is being 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 and support businesses across the wider area.

But serious questions are again being asked about the project’s direction and transparency.

Mr Geoff Ingram, from MGIC, expressed surprise that while consultants attended last Thursday’s event to gather feedback, they were unable to answer detailed questions, indicating that the project was essentially starting from scratch.

“The display boards still show plans for a base station, gondola, and visitor centre,” he said. “However, it feels as though the decision to proceed has already been made, regardless of public input. Despite requests, there was no survey on public support for the project and no assurance that the comments we left would be made public.”

Mr Ingram said the campaign group conducted an informal online straw poll among attendees last Thursday and struggled to find anyone in favour of the project, aside from one council official.

”It was almost 100% against,” he said. “Terms like ‘world-class,’ ‘inclusive,’ and ‘experiential opportunities’ are used to describe this project, but nothing holds up under close scrutiny,” he argued. 

“Fragile mountain trails, steep slopes and safety concerns would prevent accessibility for the general public, including disabled visitors.”

Mr Ingram said the proposed park-and-ride facility near the Burrendale Hotel could lead to significant traffic congestion and with projected visitor numbers reduced to 80,000 in the first year, he argued the project is now a total financial liability with the falling on ratepayers.

“People are often told that if the gondola project doesn’t go ahead the Belfast Region City Deal funding will be lost, but this is totally untrue,” he said.

“Other more creative, less expensive and more ecological projects have been submitted but our council doesn’t seem to want to look at them.”

Mr Ingram added: “Locals should ask themselves why would they pay £30 or £40 per person to visit a mountain interpretive centre that, ironically, is one of the few places in a 60 miles radius which has no view of the Mournes?

MGIG is running a petition opposing the gondola which they intend to present to Stormont. Over 4,600 people have already signed and thee petition can be accessed via the group’s Facebook page.

Eco Justice Ireland said the gondola project has not been conceived with the interests of nature or local residents in mind and that if it goes ahead it will scar the landscape.

Declan Owens said the organisation feels strongly about the issue and is supporting the Mourne Gateway Info Group’s petition which has over 4,000 signatures.

“The project is a white elephant,” Mr Owens claimed. “I cannot see anything that could happen that would alter our stance on this project. 

“es there needs to be investment in tourism, but it must be sustainable not a white elephant or vanity project that is going to make consultants a lot of money.”