The Narrow Water Bridge Project should be revived to transform the economy on both sides of the border Said SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie. Ms Ritchie said that the Irish Government’s Capital Investment Plan commitment the concept of a bridge fell short of what was required for the project to regain traction. She said: “In the Irish Government’s Capital Investment Plan published last year there was a commitment to the ‘concept’ of a bridge at Narrow Water. At the time I said that a commitment to a ‘concept’ fell short of what was needed to regain the momentum the project needs following the withdrawal of European funding. A few months later the ‘Fresh Start’ proposals again repeated the commitment to nothing more than ‘a concept’/ and a review of the proposals. The former SDLP Leader said that the political inertia on the project has done a disservice to border areas such as South Down and Louth who could reap the financial benefits of the investment: “This is a project which could have a transformative effect on our economy and on North/South partnership. And yet it has been beset by delays and political ineptitude which have seriously let down the people of South Down and Louth. We are talking about building a new economic corridor on the island of Ireland. The Narrow Water Bridge is the catalyst for that development bringing with it massive net savings in terms of travel costs and the potential for massive growth in the tourism industry. We have already heard shallow electoral promises about infrastructure projects but it seems that Narrow Water Bridge didn’t even deserve a mention. That reveals the commitment of some parties to this project . I will continue to press for detail and movement on this development which will provide real jobs and real hope for communities in South Down and Louth.
Newry Democrat
6th January 2016
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