Newry and Mourne District Council

Newry City Centre Strategic Development Framework March 2004
APPENDIX 4 - Responses to Public Exhibition Questionnaire (December 2003)
The questions and responses for Newry Strategic Development Framework are outlined below. 35
questionnaires were returned in total.
1 Vision- this is a statement as to how Newry might look in 2015. Do you agree with this statement
Yes- 20
No- 12
No response- 3
If not, what would your Vision be for central Newry
- Why move the bus centre Public transport should be at the centre of the city
- More car parking in Newry city centre. Leave the bus centre where it is in the city centre. Move taxis to The
Mall not Margaret Square
- The Mall is too congested make it one way in the direction from Town Hall to Mary Street
- No change needed
- With your proposed vision it still leaves Newry ‘spread out’. Sugar Island is too remote. The plan should be
more compact and central. Decide where the core/heart is then build out
- Hill Street, Marcus and Margaret Square are fine but shopping and entertainment centres are too spread out
and fragmented. Need to concentrate these bearing in mind existing facilities
3 Land-use Zoning Map- this is a map representing proposed land uses. It gives a general indication as to what
uses may be acceptable in each zone and then protect that use from change. Do you agree with the proposed
zones
Yes- 15
No- 6
No response- 14
If not, what alternatives would be acceptable
No response
4 Artists Impression- the sketches give an idea as to how parts of central Newry might look in the future.
Would you be happy to see the centre develop in this way
Yes- 14
No- 2
No response- 19
Have you any strong objections to the proposals What changes would you make
- Sugar Island District looks fragmented but at the same time it looks like two enclosures, it is not pleasing to
look at and I think it would unpleasant to work in the area
- What will the Basin look like I hope there will be plenty of public space and a walk to Victoria Lock
- What is wrong with the bus centre that has just cost millions of pounds of our money to build!
2 Opportunity sites- these are sites that could be put to better use and are shown as green shaded areas on
the map. We have suggested alternative land-uses for each site, do you agree with our suggestions
Yes- 18
No- 9
No response- 8
If not, what uses would you suggest if these sites were to be redeveloped
- I would prefer to have more leisure centres and a bigger, cleaner swimming pool with a place for young
people to gather
- A taxi rank is needed in a better location
- Number 8-make continuation of civic space/pair; Number 4-please no high rise buildings, 5 storey is too high;
please keep shopping areas close together
- Sugarhouse Quay and coal yard are too far from other retail/entertainment areas. Use these for
business/residential and more central locations for entertainment
5 Other comments
- Proposals need revising to concentrate business/commercial separately from retail/entertainment areas that
need to be closer together. Cafes, bars, restaurants need to be close to cinemas and theatres in a single
central pedestrian area
- I hope to see Newry developed in this way but do believe the proposed ‘Vision’ will not be developed until a
much later time possibly 2025
- Good luck with plans
- This is a very good landscape
- Redevelop the parts that need doing and leave the rest alone
- Good plan
- Get the plan into action
- The Canal bank needs to be cleaned from Albert Basin to Victoria Locks for people to walk along
- I think Newry should have a place where concerts could be held like Belfast and Dublin
Ferguson McIlveen in association with Mentor and Scott Wilson Page No. 53