Mixed SF message over Narrow Water

Local Ulster Unionist Party MLAs have questioned Sinn Fein's position on the proposed Narrow Water Bridge following apparently conflicting statements.

Newry & Armagh MLA and UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said: "A few weeks ago the Minister for Regional Development seemed to take a step back from the bridge idea when he told me he was unable to provide an update on the matter as it is nothing to do with him.

"He claims that this is not a setback for the development as he cannot comment on what the authorities in the Republic are doing. Conversely, on April 10 this year the Agriculture Minister told my colleague Tom Elliott that she knew exactly what the Republic was doing on animal welfare legislation. She is holding up updating our legislation for pointless north south reasons, yet Conor Murphy tells us that he isn't even asking the Republic what they are up to when it impacts on his constituency never mind his departmental responsibilities," Mr Kennedy said.

"Conor Murphy is clearly stepping back from this project, and I welcome this, as the idea for a bridge is based in ideology and not the requirements of the Newry and Warrenpoint road network or of economic development of the region.

"Now, however, another Sinn Fein minister, Caitriona Ruane, has said that the bridge "must" go ahead. She believes that the main benefit of the bridge is that it will attract visitors, which is of course nonsense unless it is a feat of engineering akin to the Golden Gate or Humber bridges.

"I suspect that Conor Murphy knows that the roads priority in the vicinity of Warrenpoint Harbour is a Newry southern relief road. I think that he knows that a republican ideological bridge at Narrow Water would be a complete waste of limited resources."

South Down MLA John McCallister said that he offers his "full support" to infrastructural improvements within the South Down and South Armagh areas, after years of neglect.

"I have been pressing Conor Murphy and Translink in recent weeks over provision of public transport, which is in great need of improvement particularly in the Kilkeel to Newry corridor.

"However wasting money on a white elephant bridge instead of improved public transport and projects that are actually needed is not good use of government time or money. He says if the bridge fails it wont be because of lack of support or assistance from him, but the fact that he doesn't appear to be doing anything to further the development of it indicates otherwise."