Independent Newry City Councillor Gavin Malone has called on Newry Mourne and Down District Council to rethink the timing of the development of a Civic Centre in Newry.
As Councillors and directors tackle the Covid-19 crisis head on trying to do their best for the ratepayers and the wider community, the uncertainty of where the Covid-19 crisis is heading is a major factor adding to the planning risks council faces.
Newry Councillor Gavin Malone has reiterated his support for a new Civic Centre in Newry but has questioned its timing with a potential Covid-19 recession over the horizon and with the current state of the health service.
Speaking on the issue Councillor Malone said: “Firstly, I would like to congratulate all those community volunteers who during the Covid-19 pandemic carried numerous tasks to help local residents, produce and distribute PPE to local hospitals, care homes etc.
“These totally unselfish actions have provided so much assistance to those in need at this most difficult period.
“I would also like to pay tribute to all our statutory agencies, supermarkets, shops etc and their staff for putting themselves at significant risk and providing first class services for all the residents in our district, without their hard dedicated work our lives would have been so much more difficult.
“Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, I firmly believe the way we live will be changed for a very long time, and I also believe Newry Mourne and Down District Council must consider reviewing completely their Strategic Plan and Departmental Business Plans to meet the new challenges we will meet in the future.
A perfect example of this new era should include a full business review of the proposed Civic Centre to be located at the rear of Newry Cathedral.
“A large number of Council staff are currently working very successfully from home during the Covid 19 pandemic and I would like to congratulate our senior management for introducing a state-of-the-art technology package which allowed our staff to access their emails, participate in individual and team meetings and continue to provide a 5-star service to our rate payers.
“If it works now, this technology package could be extended to other relevant individuals and Departments in the future. This process is very attractive for a number of reasons such as:
- staff would not have to travel to work as often, therefore traffic congestion in the city could be reduced.
- Less travel means reduced consumption of car fuel being used.
- Less travel means reduced air pollution.
- Less travel improves the quality of our environment.
- Less travel means much needed parking is provided for shoppers etc.
- Possible reduction in number of vehicle accidents due to less vehicles on the road.”
Cllr Malone added: “With a potential Covid-19 recession just over the horizon and the impacts of Brexit, should Newry Mourne and Down District Council not think about saving money as opposed to spending?”
He has reiterated his support for the eventual development of a Civic Centre in Newry but has stated that savings are a core aspect to his argument, adding there are environmental benefits, and at this stage we need to think about saving money as opposed to spending.
“In my view the biggest saving will be on the size of the proposed new Civic Centre,” added Cllr Malaone. “Less staff needing office accommodation means the Civic Centre project can be significantly reduced in size, therefore saving preventing capital debt. The new Civic Centre is estimated to cost £20m plus, so if you reduced it by 30%, this could possibly save approximately £6m.
“This £6m could be used to deliver other major capital projects across the entire Council District eg Albert Basin Peoples Park etc. The bigger the reduction in the Civic Centre the bigger the savings and the bigger number of other Capital Projects that could be developed.
“Also, if the new Civic Centre is developed that would free up the current Council Offices located at Monaghan Row which I believed could be sold to Daisy Hill Hospital to allow it to expand, provide additional services and secure its future.
“And the sale of the Council Offices would provide much needed capital monies for the Council and reduce the future capital debt of the Council.
“Finally, I also firmly believe the old Newry Sports Centre should be sold to the Southern Regional College to allow it to expand and provide much needed additional educational facilities and courses for our residents.
“Our youth deserve the best education and skills to allow our private, public and voluntary sectors to avail of a confident and skilled work force.”
