Feehan urges council to realise potential of Newry Canal

Councillor Feehan is bringing a motion to council on Monday evening calling for the regeneration of the canal.

He is proposing council write to councils across Ireland and Britain who have experience developing waterways and to UK, Irish and European funding bodies to identify opportunities for support.

Cllr Feehan said: “Our failure to regenerate and invest in Newry Canal is denying us the opportunity to make the most of one of our most obvious natural resources.

"We have seen towns and cities across Ireland and Britain make the most of their waterways, establishing areas of natural beauty and facilities around water-based activities that can be enjoyed by tourists and local residents alike.

“There is no reason that Newry cannot learn from what has been achieved in other places and that’s why I’m proposing that we write to the likes of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Birmingham City Council and Waterways Ireland so that we can share best practice and look at developing similar initiatives here. We must also explore the funding opportunities to support this development by engaging with the Shared Ireland Unit and EU and UK funding streams.

“Key to this development will be ensuring that no bridge is built across Newry Canal. The SDLP has been steadfast in our opposition to this proposal and it would severely limit our potential to develop maritime tourism.

"There is an opportunity here to put forward an exciting vision for the future of our Newry Canal and I would urge every councillor to roll in behind our proposals so that we can deliver on the huge promise that exists to create jobs, attract tourism, enhance biodiversity and improve quality of life for local residents.”

The full text of the motion is as follows:

This Council reaffirms its commitment to the regeneration of Newry Canal to realise its full potential as a key recreation, tourism, biodiversity, and economic development asset.

Council will write to the following local authorities and statutory bodies, in pursuit of best practice learnings, and to request information sharing on waterways strategies and management plans:

• Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Leitrim County Council and Cavan County Council (Shannon-Erne Waterway)

• Derry City & Strabane District Council (Foyle Maritime Festival)

• Birmingham City Council (Birmingham Canal Navigations)

• Waterways Ireland

Council will write to the following bodies to request a breakdown of their funding priorities and to identify synergies between funding opportunities and the regeneration of Newry Canal:

• The Shared Island Unit

• The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

• The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)