South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said that extending the Natural Gas network in South Down would have a positive impact on businesses.
Ms Ritchie was speaking after she met with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Arlene Foster at Stormont.
She said: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to meet with Minister Arlene Foster regarding a natural gas network for Crossgar and Downpatrick.
“The extension of the gas network is essential to these areas and will help provide an additional fuel source to the local residential and business community.
“The Minister has assured me that she will support the extension of the gas pipeline and that she will pursue the project with the utility regulator.
“At present we have an over-reliance on certain forms of energy and gas provides a viable and useful alternative.
“If we are to assist our local economy we must be active in looking at ways to help the local businesses and householders drive down energy costs and open up more choice to local consumers.
“I will be making representations to the Utility Regulator and Phoenix Natural Gas with a view to seeing the gas network extended to Crossgar and Downpatrick as a matter of urgency.”
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