A senior Catholic cleric in Newry is to take the unusual step of addressing a planning committee to voice his opposition to new council headquarters in the city.
Canon Francis Brown is among more than 2,500 objectors to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s plans for a £20m ‘civic hub’ at Abbey Way, close to city’s landmark Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Colman.
The priest argues that the council’s controversial new headquarters will obstruct views of the 195-year-old Grade A listed building and significantly reduce the number of car parking spaces for parishioners.
His opposition to the project is supported by Newry’s Anglican and Methodist church leaders.
Last month, The Irish News revealed that the local government spending watchdog had written to the head of Newry Mourne and Down District Council raising concerns around the plans.
Local government auditor Colette Kane’s letter to council chief executive Marie Ward related to potential increases in construction costs and the occupancy level of the proposed centre, along with its car parking arrangements.
She also stressed “the importance of ensuring that governance arrangements around decision-making are made clear”.
Independent councillor Jarlath Tinnelly said management of the project to date was “one of the most peculiar processes I have witnessed in my ten years as a councillor”.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) issued a direction to the council in October, meaning civil servants will scrutinise any planning decision before deciding whether it warrants their intervention.
Ahead of Wednesday’s planning committee meeting, Canon Brown accused the council of “ignoring the Catholic people of Newry”.
He said the proposed location was “unsuitable” and that there were alternative sites in the city, including the nearby vacant former Dunnes Stores.
“We are not against regeneration but this is not regeneration – this is the council ignoring the people, and not just the cathedral congregation, it’s against the business community’s wishes too,” Canon Brown said.
“It’s short-sightedness – in a predominantly Catholic city I think it’s ludicrous and insane to go against the wishes of the population.”
The cleric will be joined in speaking in opposition to the application by Andy Stephens of Matrix Planning Consultancy and roads engineer Simon Warke.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said its plans had been “extensively discussed and reviewed” by elected representatives and meet the required standards.
It said the “preferred location” is owned by the council and was selected from a list of 33 potential sites.
The council said it “consulted extensively” with Canon Brown and colleagues and that his claim that the local authority is ignoring the Catholic people of Newry is “unwarranted and inaccurate”.
Alliance representatives have argued that the council lets vacant offices at the Quays, which they say would save ratepayers a £20m capital investment, with rent paid for by car parking at Abbey Way, where it proposed reducing the number of car parking spaces to make way for the new headquarters.
