Building work for Newry’s new £2.4m public realm scheme which will upgrade canal bank walkways from Sugar Island to Dublin Bridge – will begin in September. Newry and Mourne District Council confirmed the news in a statement issued to the Newry Reporter. “The contract is currently being priced and the intention is that the new contractor will be formally appointed in September,” it read. “Thereafter the contractor will aim to be on site by the end of September.” The news comes just a week after the local authority confirmed local firm Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd has been appointed as the contractor entrusted with developing the city’s new £7,815,000 swimming pool at Rooney’s Meadow. As such progress on the two projects will be viewed as a major boost to the local building trade following difficulties experienced by the Narrow Water Bridge project in recent weeks. The Canal bank project officially entitled the ‘Newry City Linkages Public Realm Scheme’ will see the repaving and broadening of walkways along the city stretch of the historic waterway. The scheme the majority of which is funded by the Department of Social Development (£2m), has come not without its controversies – mainly in relation to the removal of cherry blossom trees in the area. In dealing with these issues the Council (which has invested £400,000 in the project) has secured increased parking provision at Corry Square and North Street and has agreed to replace like with like in terms of the cherry blossoms. It is believed work on the project will be completed by early summer 2014.
Newry Reporter
24th July 2013
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