NARROW WATER BRIDGE COMMUNITY NETWORK

NARROW WATER BRIDGE COMMUNITY NETWORK

Newsletter February 2020

Follow Us

Stormont is back!

And so are we!

The long overdue and very welcome return of the Assembly has re-ignited hopes of the bridge being built at Narrow Water. The New Decade, New Approach Agreement under the heading "Turbocharging Projects" Northern Ireland will benefit from increased funding from Westminster for a list of capital investments projects which include the Narrow Water Bridge.

In a somewhat vaguer reference the agreement states that the Dublin government is also ready to "jointly progress consideration of options for the development of the Narrow Water bridge project through the North South Ministerial Council" which are now expected to be re-established following the breakthrough.
 

However dark clouds are already gathering! Of the two politicians pictured above above one is already gone and the other is surely going!
More worryingly the newly appointed Minister of Finance at Stormont is saying that the amount pledged by the Johnston government is insufficient to cover all the items listed in the Programme for Government.

Local people still remember  the heartbreaking disappointment of 2013 when after years of campaigning they witnessed the shattering of a dream. Through colossal incompetence and political mishandling the bridge disappeared Brig O’ Doon-like before their eyes.

In the intervening years everyone has lost. How many local people under 30 can remember these now crumbling buildings were once part of the tourist heritage of the Carlingford Lough area? 

The Narrow Water Bridge is more than a bridge. It represents a positive vision of the future. Newry Mourne & Down has the greatest proportion of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty of all the municipal areas in Northern Ireland. 

This incredibly corresponds with one of the lowest levels of foreign tourist throughput in Ireland! The NWBCN believe the Narrow Water Bridge will provide an opportunity to break the cycle of mediocrity. "Let's get this bridge built!'' 

Sign up for our Newsletter now!