Mourne Heritage Trust has announced that a major project to enhance the tourism potential of the south east coast of Northern Ireland commenced recently. The marking of the ‘Mourne Coastal Driving Route’ with the distinctive and internationally recognised ‘White on Brown’ tourism signage will complementing the existing ‘Causeway Coastal Route’ and provide a highly marketable new tourism product. The route signage will stretch between Belfast and the city of Newry via Belfast, the Ards Peninsula, the Lecale Coast and in the words of the famous song, ‘the place where the mountains sweep down to the sea.’ A number of scenic loops will also take visitors into the heart of the Mournes, Slieve Croob and Slieve Roosley as well as the Ards Peninsula. Several amenity sites along the intended route have been upgraded in recent years with signature entrance features and site furniture, while upgrades are planed at several other locations. However the phase of the development now getting underway involves only the installation of 269 new road traffic signs ranging up to 22 square meters and necessitating in some cases the removal and replacement of existing signs. The project will be completed by the end of March 2013 will cove locations in the local authority areas of Belfast, North Down, Ards, Down, Newry and Mourne and Banbridge respectively. It has been developed and will be coordinated by Mourne Heritage Trust in conjunction with Northern Ireland Tourism Board. The latter is also providing the bulk of funding through its Tourism Development Scheme with additional input from each of the relevant local councils and the Southern Organisation for Action in Rural Areas (SOAR). While the works will necessitate some disruption this will be relatively minor and kept to an absolute minimum. The project partners would be grateful for the patience and understanding of members of the public impacted by the conduct of this important work. Details of the project including maps indicating the location of signs will soon be put on public display.
Newry Reporter
28th November 2012
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