WP Calls on Newry Council to Shelve Civic Centre Plans
On 19 June, councillors from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council vote on the planning application for the £17m Newry Civic Centre. The project has been plagued by delays and controversy. In terms of proposed costs, the civic hub alone (i.e., not including the planned theatre facility) has risen from £10.5 m in 2019 to £17 m–£20 m by late 2024, and it now forms part of a £40 m city centre project. The council expects to borrow most of the money, adding to an existing debt of over £90 million. Funds for this wasteful project will mostly come from rates, with £8 million costs covered by the Belfast City Deal .
The Workers Party once again calls on Newry Mourne & Down District Council to shelve plans to build a new Civic Centre. Given the levels of debts and financial liabilities the council has accumulated of £91.7million, it would not be financially prudent to continue with this vanity project.
In recent years the council has faced significant financial pressures, for the 2023/24 fiscal year, the council planned to make £11.6 million in savings, being 17.2% of the net budget. This proposal led to concerns from trade unions about potential negative impacts on staffing and services to the ratepayers. Despite financial constraints, the council continues to invest in capital projects none of which benefits ratepayers, who are again faced with increased rates. In terms of who benefits, nowhere in the capital projects is there any sign of the promised park that would be beneficial to the entire community of Newry.
The council justified rates increases by saying they are needed to balance service provision with financial efficiency, to ensure the council can deliver essential services while managing its debt responsibly. The ratepayers are unimpressed by these claims of fiscal responsibility while the council refuses to scrap the proposed new Civic Centre which is neither wanted nor needed. Ratepayers want projects and services that help the entire population, not white elephants and vanity projects.