Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade led a delegation including Minister Mark H Durkan, Department of Environment on a guided tour of Newry City on the 24 July 2014. The visit was prompted by the business community’s serious concerns about the impact an out of town development at Carnbane Way would have on existing businesses in and around the city.
Led by Newry Chamber President Deborah Loughran, the Minister was shown the many vacant sites within the city centre where a major retail development could be located including those sites which already have Planning Permission. President Deborah Loughran presented Minister Durkan with a petition signed by more than 1,200 people who are opposed to the out of town development at Carnbane Way. Should this development at this location proceed it will have a devastating impact on the future viability and vitality of Newry City including loss of investment and displacement of jobs.
Directly after the tour the Minister met with local retailers, stakeholders and representatives from Newry & Mourne District Council who assured him that the business community is not opposed to development but we must continue to build up our city before we build around it. They urged Minister Durkan to seriously consider referring the decision on Carnbane Way to the Planning Appeals Commission.
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