Alliance welcomes £3million funding boost to protect Mournes Landscape
South Down Alliance Party spokesperson Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed a new initiative aimed at regenerating and protecting the Mournes landscape which has secured a major £3million funding boost.
The funding has been made available by the Heritage Lottery Fund and will also be used to protect and enhance the environment of the Mournes, promote its natural and built heritage.
The Mourne Heritage Trust has secured the funding to finance the Mourne Landscape Partnership initiative which will work directly with the local community and landowners to secure the future of the Mournes.
Speaking to Newry Times, Councillor Patrick Clarke stated, “I am delighted at the recent announcement that the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £1.5 million to the Mourne Heritage Trust for the Mourne Mountain Landscape Partnership as well as other additional match funding which brings the total programme value to approximately £3 million.”
“This very significant and major grant funding will help enable the Mourne Mountain Landscape Partnership Programme to make a very significant contribution to the cultural, natural and built heritage of a very historic and beautiful area which is the Mournes.”
“I am particularly pleased that the extension of the granite trail at Newcastle, the restoration of Annalong Cornmill and related development of a Mourne Granite Interpretative Centre are part of the overall funding programme of a wide range of works and initiatives.”
He continued, “There is no doubt that the ambitious Mourne Mountain Landscape Partnership Programme will help stimulate the local area both socially, economically, culturally and environmentally and allow the community to embrace, manage and protect such an area of outstanding natural beauty.”
“In terms of attracting tourists and visitors to the Mournes it is also important that such historic and environmentally protected areas within the Mournes which include footpaths and trails, stone walls, historic buildings and monuments are properly protected and maintained for future generations.
Clarke added, “So this financial investment will enable the Mournes to be protected from further erosion and damage.
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