THE major retail development project at Newry's Carnbane may at the moment divide opinion, which is healthy for local democracy with the public having freedom of choice. As a resident living close to the project i believe it makes good business sense. It creates employment and in the overall picture enhances Newry as a 'city' not a market town. Newry city centre traders do not have a monopoly on commercial trading. This is so reminiscent of Lisburn traders whinging about John Lewis attempting to put a bit of business Lisburn's way. i, for one, will be watching attentively those councillors who voted against the development going ahead because when this success story comes to fruition these same councillors will no doubt be lauding over that success.
Look at tesco on the Downshire road and the naysayers involved in that success story too. Councillors should be able to think for themselves what is beneficial to their immediate communities and be accountable to those who voted for them and not shackled to out-of-touch directives handed down from Belfast and elsewhere.
Let's build Newry up to becoming a vibrant city as it aspires to be or alternatively let's drag it back to a market town and knock down the sports centre and reopen the pig market.
JOHN McCABE
Newry, Co Down
