Following a meeting with the Minister for Regional Development Mr. Danny Kennedy, last week in Stormont, members of the Warrenpoint, and Kilkeel Chambers of Commerce who attended this very important discussion said they were very pleased with the outcome. Jim Boylan from the Warrenpoint Chamber stressed the importance of the bridge from an economic point of view, and advised the minister how gutted the residents of the entire area were, when at the last minute, last year, the funding was withdrawn. Gordon Coulter from Kilkeel Chamber said the area needs this bridge and that it was vital for the necessary promotion of tourism along the east coast.
Minister Kennedy who has met with the lobby group on two previous occasions during the last round of SEUPB funding was very supportive going forward for the next round of SEUPB funding which commences this year and proceeded to outline the Inter Regional funding requirements. It was felt tourism was the major thematic objective, and all present expressed their determination to drive this forward. Minister Kennedy was also advised that the lobby group had recently met with the Minister of Finance Simon Hamilton who had also encouraged support to pursue the project, and Mr. Kennedy said that he would be talking to him about this as soon as possible.
