NARROW WATER BRIDGE COMMUNITY NETWORK NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021 |
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It's official - the bridge will be built! |
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The Stormont Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon and her counterpart on the Narrow Water Bridge, Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing in the Dáil, brought more than October sunshine on their visit to Narrow Water last month. |
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They brought news which Jim Boylan, Chairman of Narrow Water Bridge Community Network, says the local community has been waiting for almost half a century. "We have come this close before,” said Mr Boylan. "But this time it is different!" |
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"The message was delivered loud and clear from both Ministers that this transformative bridge is a priority and will be built!" |
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Mr Boylan also expressed great relief that any lingering doubts as to the type of bridge being delivered were dispelled when Minister O’Brien indicated that the Coalition in Dublin, which was at one on the project, were committed to moving to the tender stage on the 2012 approved design as quickly as possible. It is anticipated that building will begin in early 2023. |
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Minister Mallon was equally emphatic in her commitment to fully integrate her Active Travel Strategy with the building of the bridge. Ms Mallon praised the NWBCN for their persistent and professional campaign to deliver the project. |
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The Minister also complimented the campaign group on their impassioned vision of the Green dimension to the Narrow Water Bridge. She looked forward to the NWBCN engaging with her Active Travel Unit. |
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The Active Travel Unit includes not only officials from within Ms Mallon's department but also the Newry Mourne & Down District Council. |
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"For the COP26 in Glasgow to be a success it will take many things. But above all it will take honesty, solidarity, and courage" Greta Thunberg |
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Next week to coincide with the conference in Glasgow, widely seen as "our last best hope", the NWBCN will set out in detail how the Narrow Water Bridge can significantly contribute to the reduction in emissions and revolutionise how we move around in this area. However to fully capitalise on the Active Travel opportunity that the bridge creates, we will need to be totally honest about the crisis humankind has unleashed and be prepared to show just a little of the enormous courage of the young Swedish activist! |
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Adrian O'Hare Secretary NARROW WATER BRIDGE COMMUNITY NETWORK |
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