Freedom Of Information Request (May 2008)

Dear Mr Schiller

Freedom of Information Request: "Please supply all details and documentation and other material relating to plans the Council have to develop the Newry canal and the Albert Basin."

Many thanks for your question raised via the www.whatdotheyknow.com website.

As you will be aware your question is very wide and potentially open to several interpretations. We think all of the information you are probably looking for about the Council's plans for the Newry Canal and the Albert Basin is readily available from a special website we have set up, which may be found at www.albertbasin.com

The pages of the Albert Basin website give a brief overview of the status of the land and the documents and material that the Council has assembled in relation to the land may be downloaded via the link at the top of the page marked "Document Downloads".

If you open the "Document Downloads" link you will find you are presented with a list of documents. The "Development Brief Main Report", which is the document the sections of which are listed on the left hand side of the page, is the document which sets out the detail of the Council's proposals for the land. As you will see this may be downloaded together with the eight appendices.

The documents listed on the right hand side of the page are the other documents and materials that the Council has accumulated which are relevant to the development of the land. Again, each of these may be downloaded by clicking on the document you are interested to view.

As you will see when you do click on one of the documents you will be asked to supply some brief details about yourself before the documents may be downloaded. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to view the documents and if you do not have that software a link is available on the "Document Downloads" to a site from which it may be obtained.

2.) Newry Canal

Albert Basin Section

The section of Canal that wraps around the Albert Basin and runs along-side the Quays Shopping Centre, is known as the Ship Canal (South of Dublin Bridge).

Given that a Significant Environmental Improvement (E.I)Scheme was carried out along the Quays in 2000/2001, there are no plans to carry out any further developments on this side of the Ship Canal.

On the Far bank of the Ship Canal (Portion that wraps around Albert Basin), any plans to develop the water resource by way of Marina, Pontoons, Sailing or Rowing facilities are all very much dependant on the outcome of the Albert Basin project as outlined above.

Buttercrane Quay Section

As may are may not be aware the Buttercrane Shopping centre is in the process of planning another expansion phase.

As part of this, Newry & Mourne District Council are actively working with the Buttercrane and DSD to bring forward proposals for a future Environmental Improvement (E.I) Scheme that will run from Dublin Bridge to Ballybot Bridge.

Given the recent restoration of the Canal banks along this section of Canal, the planned EI scheme will aim to further enhance the waterway as an attraction within the heart of Newry City.

Merchants Quay Section

Council are currently working to put together a proposal to regenerate the section of Canal from Ballybot Bridge to Sugar Island Bridge. Funders will have to be approached as part of the process.

These schemes are at developmental stages and we cannot comment on timescales or detail until funding is secured.

Canal Quay Section

EI Works to this section of Canal (From Sugar Island Bridge to Lock No.2 at WIN) were completed in March 2008. The Canal banks were restored and Maritime fencing was erected as an appropriate Canal Edge treatment.

Many thanks for your interest in the Council's plans for this land & Waterway.