A crumbling Newry river wall has no time-frame for repair with disabled city centre car parking spaces already closed off for months.
A local councillor has now raised public safety concerns as parts if the “key tourist attraction” show visible signs of flood wear and tear.
Hazardous parts of the Clanrye River wall at Soho car park are now geared for further inspection by the council following a sudden Easter time collapse.
Newry Sinn Fein councillor Aidan Mathers said: “The condition of the wall currently presents a health and safety issue for car park users and pedestrians.
“The wall has reached a stage where all the years of wear and tear have had a detrimental impact. If we think back to the floods a few short years ago, all of this has a negative impact on the structure of the wall. The wall needs to be reinforced and inspected regularly.
“The river and canal are key tourist attractions and very much part of the heritage of the city. If the wall is upgraded to the same standard of the work completed earlier this year further up the river this would be very welcome by the residents of Newry.
“We need to be proactive and not reactive in ensuring the safety of the walls along this stretch of city.”
The collapsed Newry riverbank stirred fears of unknown public dangers, prompting an urgent call for safety inspections in council chambers in April.
Emergency work to the Clanrye River wall have now completed repairs on one side of the car park, but more signs of weakness have yet to be fixed.
A council spokesperson said: “The repairs have been completed at ‘Canal Bank 3’ car park.
“Repairs are required in a section of ‘Canal Bank 2’ car park. Options are currently being considered for the works.
“Approximately 20 spaces have been cordoned off in Soho while the wall is being inspected.
“Spaces will be cordoned off until the work is completed, a programme is to be confirmed following agreement on a proposal for the works.”
