Plans for public realm in south Down raises boundary line concerns

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has signed off on plans for an environmental improvement scheme for Rostrevor.

The area is now expected to undergo the refurbishment to footpaths and lighting in the coming months.

However, Crotlieve independent councillor, Jarlath Tinnelly said: “I have realised that the red line boundary (on the planning map), was not in the right place or the agreed place from a few months ago.

“I know these plans have to go through today, I’m happy enough with that, but I want to know and I want to ask the officer, what is going to be done to rectify that going forward?”

Following the meeting, he added: “There has been an inadvertent error made on the boundary lines of Rostrevor that could see a stretch of some 50 metres or more being excluded from the refurbishment plans on Mary Street from the front of St Bronagh’s GAA grounds.

“I have been given assurances, but this error needs to be highlighted and a solution worked out.”

A council officer responded: “As the councillor knows the scheme is time bound in terms of what is available for Phase 1.

“In terms of moving forward, we can look at how the red line could be amended in the planning application after approval or through working with DfI (Department for Infrastructure) to see how the scheme can be completed when we move to that phase of completion.

“The red line followed the lines of the previous scheme, so there are probably workable solutions when we get to that stage as to how that could be adjusted and still allow the application to proceed today.”