Independent Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed a written response received from the Minister of the Environment Mark H Durkan regarding progress of various works at Dundrum Castle.
These works include floodlighting, the proposed new visitor centre and establishing ownership of, and upgrading, the upper section of Castle Hill Road. Slieve Croob Councillor Clarke has been lobbying for better visitor and tourist facilities at Dundrum Castle and maximising the tourism promotion of Dundrum Castle’s built heritage as a major tourism attraction.
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Cllr Patrick Clarke is delighted at progress in increasing the tourism profile of Dundrum Castle.[/caption]Councillor xa0Clarke said:xa0“The Minister for the Environment has responded to my written correspondence giving an update on the current progress of various works at Dundrum Castle and the Castle Hill Road leading from the Manse Road up to Dundrum Castle and car park.
“I have been advised by the Environment Minister that works are currently continuing in respect of floodlighting, the proposed new visitor centre and establishing ownership of, and upgrading, the upper section of Castle Hill Road leading up to Dundrum Castle.
“Central to this project is achieving better public access to Dundrum Castle. The Minister has informed me that his officials have now developed a draft concept for the upgrade of the access road which would include bringing the upper portions of McMinn’s Lane and Castle Hill Road up to TransportNI’s adoptable standard.
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Councillor Patrick Clarke said improvements to Dundrum Castle will have spin offs for the local area.xa0[/caption]“In order to ensure that this option is viable, officials from the Department of the Environment will procure a traffic survey and an environmental study. Once these surveys have been completed, officials will then hold a public consultation to inform local residents in Dundrum of the draft concept and to invite public feedback. The Minister has also advised me xa0a public consultation will take place after the summer, most likely in September in respect of the Dundrum Castle project.
“Dundrum Castle in the very near future could become a major tourist attraction in Newry Mourne and Down District Council region. I am therefore very pleased with this and welcome the Minister’s recommendations xa0to maximise the tourism potential of Dundrum Castle which will provide wider tourism benefits for the area.
“I also welcome the recent update received from the Environment Minister and will be continuing to monitor these plans of the various works at Dundrum Castle by the DOE and the NIEA and look forward to their final implementation,” said Cllr Patrick Clarke.
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