Newry Chamber calls on support for local businesses

Newry Chamber is calling on Newry's residents to support local businesses 'now more than ever' following this week's devastating floods.

In a statement they said: 'Despite the scale of the challenges facing our city and the wider area, the majority of Newry City is open for business today and we would encourage you to support our local businesses, who need it now more than ever so please shop local.

'The Chamber has been focusing on securing support from central government. Chamber President, Julie Gibbons has written to Jayne Brady, Head of the NI Civil Service requesting that she and a delegation of relevant Permanent Secretaries visit Newry urgently to view the utter devastation the flooding has caused with a view to securing additional financial and practical support for those businesses that have been severely impacted.

The visit will also provide an opportunity to identify the current infrastructure deficit in the area and the need for significant infrastructure investment to prevent similar catastrophic events in the future and underpin Newry's ambitious development plans as part of the Belfast Region City Deal.

'We are conscious businesses in WIN Industrial Estate, Greenbank Industrial Estate, Flurrybridge Business Park, Camlough and other areas across the Newry, Mourne and Down District have also been significantly impacted and we will continue to press government departments for urgent support.

'There are still parts of Newry City Centre that will remain closed until further notice. As this is an evolving situation, please visit www.trafficwatchni.com to stay updated in relation to road closures and reopenings.

'The Chamber would also like thank all of our members who have reached out to us offering their support to those businesses who have been affected by the flooding across the Greater Newry Area yesterday.

'Our Corporate Patron, Shelbourne Vehicle Rental have offered businesses whose premises have been impacted by the flooding, complementary 24-hour van loan on a self-drive basis to assist in moving stock and equipment.

'If you would like to avail of a van, please contact Josh Matchett at: [email protected] or 028 3839 6868

'Some of our members still require temporary premises to store salvaged stock and equipment and we ask any members who may be in a position to provide temporary storage space to contact the Chamber.

'The Chamber will issue a further update when it becomes available and we would encourage any of our members who require our assistance over the coming weeks and months to please contact us via [email protected].'