Newcastle

Do not be suckered by headlines. The barriers will be erected in March, but as recently as this morning I was meeting with a council officer regarding alternative provision.

You will appreciate, I hope, that we are not yet in a position to make public likely outcomes. As I said when I took this fight on, the damage had already been done and I would fight a damage limitation on behalf of motorhomecraic. Interestingly now the Local SDLP MLA and a councillor have reacting positively to our representations over the last few months and last week asked about the possibility of meeting the tourism officers to explore the possibilities of provision throughout the council area.

I hope to report the provision of some overnight parking in a couple of locations by mid February. It would be prudent to keep this quiet at present and not to stir things up.

Davy

Elements of what has been stated in the clippings are correct with regard to one location. The 12 hour limit is the existing byelaw for all carparks in the Newry mourne and Down area (not that this has ever been displayed and is probably unenforceable). I have been asking for something more like the normal period of 48 hours or so. I hope this is accepted. The sense of it is understood by my contacts, but given the unpredictability of councillors, it will not be over til the fat lady sings. I am also trying to get 3 or 4 locations each offering a few places to avoid a Donaghadee scenario. We are hoping for overflow provision for the busy summer months. Similar to what is put in place for the air show, but in a better location, again to try to mitigate the perception of too many vans ‘taking over’ the town.

This has been worked at since Jack the Rev and I first met councillors and officials probably about 5 years ago looking for provision in the old Down district council area, but was put on ice during the reorganisation of the council areas from 26 to 11. When the Newcastle barriers were mooted I took up the challenge with the backing of craic and Ally.

The prospect of moving this forward will depend on our sensible use of whatever we can achieve and building on it, but I think looking around the whole island we are beginning to make progress. It is great to be able to tell councillors about the potentials of N. Down, Wicklow, Castletownbere etc and use it as leverage, fingers crossed.

Gavster, I fully intend to contact you by pm in the next few days, as the potential to create some forward thinking by this council needs to be grabbed.

Davy